I ricercatori del Politecnico federale di Losanna (EPFL) hanno identificato una zona cerebrale chiave per favorire la guarigione di topi paraplegici. Uno studio in materia è stato pubblicato sul mensile scientifico Nature Neuroscience e, secondo i suoi estensori, rappresenta un passo verso la riabilitazione di pazienti paralizzati.
Gli studiosi hanno osservato per la prima volta come il cervello reindirizzi i comandi motori specifici attraverso canali alternativi, si legge in un comunicato di lunedì dell'EPFL.
"Il cervello sviluppa nuove connessioni anatomiche attraverso aree del sistema nervoso rimaste intatte dopo la lesione", spiega Grégoire Courtine, ricercatore presso l'ateneo.
Léonie Asboth, autrice principale dello studio, sottolinea però che la guarigione non è comunque spontanea. Affinché siano ristabilite le connessioni gli animali devono sottoporsi a una terapia riabilitativa intensiva.
ATS/M. Ang.
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