6 ms·
I was worried this would be a case of neural plasticity, where the brain just rewires itself around the damage (which is a thing, and it's super cool). But then
by mabbo 9y ago
I was worried this would be a case of neural plasticity, where the brain just rewires itself around the damage (which is a thing, and it's super cool). But then I read this part:
> An MRI scan a month after the 40th HBOT session showed almost complete reversal of the brain damage initially recorded. Researchers believe the oxygen therapy, coupled with Eden having the developing brain of a child, had activated genes that promote cell survival and reduce inflammation—allowing the brain to recover.
We can reverse brain damage. Wow.
- toomuchtodo 9y ago> We can reverse brain damage. Wow I'm going to tell you that I have never been more glad to read Hacker News first thing in the morning. I am sleeping in my mother's ICU room @ UIUC after she's suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage causing substantial brain damage. This is coming with me to the ICU team huddle this morning. Side note: if you're in neurological field or specialize in neurogenesis, please get in touch with me
- danso 9y agoBest wishes to you and your mother.
- toomuchtodo 9y agoThank you. This is the hardest, most painful week of my life.
- dumbneurologist 9y agoI obviously don't know anything regarding your mom's condition, but SAH (a form of hemorrhagic stroke) by itself can have very complete recovery. The real question is how much ischemic stroke there was with it. If the answer is "none", then, if she survives (scary caveat, obviously), then her recovery could be very very good. Having said that, ischemic injury is common (as is herniation, which is similarly permanent and very very dangerous). I hope she comes through it ok.
- toomuchtodo 9y agoThank you for the reply. I can't tell you how much it means to me, regardless of the outcome. I'm prepared for her to pass; she's in a coma and she's suffered brain damage, but I'm doing my best to advocate for her.
- xhedley 9y agoToomuchtodo: I posted earlier in the thread about a friend who bounced back after brain damage following a cardiac arrest. The time when I didn't know the extent of the damage (would my friend ever wake up) was terrifying. The thought of a decision I might have to make as "next of kin" was worse. I feel for your situation. I'm sure you will do the best thing you can do. Happy to chat - email is in my profile.
- toomuchtodo 9y agoThank you. I will be in touch.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- mechnesium 9y agoHave you looked into pharmaceuticals to possibly mitigate damage? I'm not sure of their efficacy, but there are a few racetams that might aid recovery. Phenylpiracetam is perhaps the most potent. From Wikipedia: "A few small clinical studies have shown possible links between prescription of phenylpiracetam and improvement in a number of encephalopathic conditions, including lesions of cerebral blood pathways, traumatic brain injury and certain types of glioma." Study in rats: "In Wistar rats with gravitational cerebral ischemia, Phenylpiracetam reduced the extent of neuralgic deficiency manifestations, retained the locomotor, research, and memory functions, increased the survival rate, and lead to the favoring of local cerebral flow restoration upon the occlusion of carotid arteries to a greater extent than did piracetam."
- 9y ago
- signa11 9y ago> We can reverse brain damage. Wow. don't forget the '...having developing brain of a child...' part, which might also be significant factor in the recovery process.