The Brain Wave: Fishing for better brain repair therapeutics
By DUY PHAN | November 20, 2014The inability of central nervous system (CNS) neurons to regenerate constitutes the greatest challenge to the development of therapies for nervous system disorders and injuries. Unlike muscle or skin tissue, neurons in the brain and the spinal cord suffer from a severe regenerative failure. This lack of regenerative ability explains why neurodegenerative disorders and traumatic injuries to the CNS are so devastating. For example, there are 200,000 people currently living in the United States with Spinal Cord Injury, accumulating a lifetime cost of up to $3 million. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, comprise a significant economic and social burden to individuals and society.