A study published in the journal Nature Medicine on the 3rd stated that deep brain stimulation of a region called the lateral hypothalamus can improve walking ability and promote recovery in humans and rodents who have experienced spinal cord injuries. These findings highlight the potential for using deep brain stimulation to treat spinal cord injuries in specific brain regions in the future. Spinal cord injury can disrupt the communication channels between the brain and spinal cord, often leading to paralysis or impaired motor function. Some brain regions help control walking, but scientists are not sure which areas are most affected by spinal cord injury, nor are they sure if other brain regions can support recovery and help patients regain walking. A joint team from the University Hospital of Lausanne and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne used 3D imaging technology to map the brain activity of mice with spinal cord injuries during the rehabilitation phase, in order to determine which brain regions are involved in walking during this period. They found that a group of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus seemed to play an important role in rehabilitation, providing potential new targets for therapeutic interventions. The team conducted deep brain stimulation on the lateral hypothalamus and found that the walking ability of mice and rats with various spinal cord injuries was immediately improved. Subsequently, the team tested whether this deep brain stimulation could improve the walking ability of two patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. The results showed that two patients who needed to rely on assistive devices to walk but still had gait problems improved their walking ability in both the 10 meter and 6-minute walking tests. When combined with rehabilitation therapy, the patient's rehabilitation effect can still be sustained even if deep brain stimulation is turned off. Although further safety studies are needed for more patients, current results show that using deep brain stimulation to activate neurons in the lateral hypothalamus can help restore some motor abilities in patients with severe spinal cord injuries. (New Society)