NR Times

Postbiotics are substances produced when gut bacteria digest food. The findings raise the possibility that they could be investigated as a preventive treatment for people at risk of head trauma. The research focused on indole-3-propionic acid, or IPA, a molecule produced when gut bacteria break down tryptophan. Researchers found that higher levels of IPA were associated with less swelling around brain lesions and better neurological outcomes six months later.

The former rugby union and league players allege the governing bodies breached their duty of care by failing to protect them from injuries linked to repeated blows and concussions during their careers. Their lawyers allege the players suffered neurological injuries including early-onset dementia, Parkinson’s, epilepsy and motor neurone disease because of repeated blows and concussions suffered on the pitch.

Researchers found a marked increase in breaks across DNA strands in a mouse model of the inherited neurodegenerative condition. Treatment with an investigational antioxidant reduced these breaks, prevented motor deficits and reduced inflammation in the brain, although it is not yet known whether the approach will work in humans.

The microscopic antibody fragments are designed to remain stable inside human cells, where they can attach to proteins associated with neurodegenerative conditions. Researchers used artificial intelligence and protein redesign techniques to convert 672 antibodies into intrabodies capable of targeting disease-related proteins. The work was carried out by researchers at the University of Essex with an international team and was funded by the MND Association.

An analysis of health records from nearly 700,000 people found significant associations between severe mental illness and both dementia and stroke. The link with dementia was seen across every age group studied, while the increased risk of stroke was particularly marked in early and middle adulthood.

Researchers examining traumatic brain injury across 29 countries found motor vehicle crashes were the largest single cause globally, although patterns varied substantially between countries. In wealthier countries, for example, ground-level falls accounted for high rates of traumatic brain injury among older adults.

Rehabilitation does not stop when a therapy session ends. For someone rebuilding their life following a brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, amputation or other complex condition, much of the real work of rehabilitation happens at home and in the community. It happens when someone tries to prepare a meal, get back to the shops, become more physically active, use public transport or regain the confidence to participate in everyday life.

The fundraising challenge will see the Neurokinex community unite to help ensure newly injured people can access rehabilitation and support at a time when it can make a significant difference to their recovery. The charity’s Step Up Scheme provides six free one-hour rehabilitation sessions to people who have recently sustained a spinal cord injury, introducing them to specialist therapy and a community of people who understand what they are going through.

Intracerebral haemorrhage, or ICH, is a type of haemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding within the brain. Patients receiving intensive blood pressure-lowering treatment had a 38 per cent lower risk of recurrent stroke than those receiving less intensive treatment or standard antihypertensive care.

The device wraps around the spinal cord and can interpret several types of signals at once. Preclinical studies found the device could accurately detect signals associated with intended movement, distinguish sensory information and identify signals originating from internal organs. Researchers from Houston Methodist and the University of Cambridge developed the technology, with the research suggesting a single device may be capable of restoring lost functions after spinal cord injury.