New Stroke Drug Could Help Prevent Brain Damage And Repair Cells

Having a stroke inflicts several problems on the human body that, if left untreated, could significantly impair normal functions. One of the worst effects of a stroke includes damage to brain cells, which can lead to permanent mobility issues. Thanks to a newly developed drug, the damage caused by a stroke to the brain could be mitigated and can even help repair damaged cells.

The new drug in question is interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and was developed by The University of Manchester researchers, which addresses the damage caused by stroke due to the reduction of blood flowing to the brain, MedicalXpress reports. Due to stroke cutting off blood flow to the brain, oxygen deprivation would set in, which is what kills brains cells that then lead to disabilities and even death.

By promoting neurogenesis, which is basically a means of healing damaged brains cells, the new drug that the researchers created is able to help treat the damage that previous stroke incidents induced. The double benefits have staggering implications for stroke victims, largely because it means that even those who already experienced the health episode can still take advantage of the new drug.

Right now, the results are only based on tests done on mice, but future experiments involving humans is already being planned. Previous research into the development of new treatments for stroke victims failed to produce substantial results, Science Daily reports, and this is the first one to actually have a tangible potential for producing a viable treatment.

On a side note, the drug used in the test has actually been applied to the direct effects of stroke before, with encouraging results. By applying IL-1Ra to rodents that experienced a stroke and were thus left impaired, the drug helped the mice regain bodily function. If this can be applied to humans, even stroke victims left fully paralyzed could have a hope of walking again.