An experimental spinal treatment may help people with a paralyzing genetic disorder
Feb 06, 2025
An exciting new treatment using electrical stimulation has helped people with a genetic disorder called spinal muscular atrophy. This disorder weakens muscles and makes it hard to move. Three people tried this treatment and saw amazing results. They felt stronger and could walk better after just a few weeks.
One man who tried the treatment was able to walk farther and even felt like his legs were supercharged. Another person improved so much that he could walk to the lab from his house, which he couldn't do before. The treatment involved temporarily implanting wires in the spine and delivering pulses of electricity to certain nerves.
The scientists behind this treatment found that the electrical stimulation helped reestablish communication between nerve cells, making muscles stronger even when the stimulation was turned off. This exciting breakthrough could help not just people with spinal muscular atrophy, but also those with other movement disorders like ALS and Parkinson's.
The results of this study were published in a journal called Nature Medicine, and show that this treatment could make a big difference for people with these disorders. The researchers are excited about the potential for this treatment to help even more people in the future.
Overall, this new treatment using electrical stimulation is giving hope to people with genetic disorders that affect their muscles. By improving communication between nerve cells, this treatment could help make muscles stronger and improve people's ability to move. It's an exciting development that could change the lives of many individuals with these conditions.