In BriefNew research from the University of California, San Francisco demonstrated improved cognitive function in concussed mice with a compound called ISRIB the "memory repair molecule." If it works the same in humans, it could give hope to traumatic brain injury patients around the world. The human brain is among the the most sensitive organs in the body at leastin terms of howeasily it can be damaged. Traumatic brain injury is usually irreparable, oftenresulting in cognitive decline and memory loss. To date, theres no drug or therapy that can reverse this damage when its become permanent. Which is why the discovery of a potential treatment by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is so compelling. The key to their researchis a compound called ISRIB, previously discovered in the lab of UCSF biochemist Peter Walter in 2013. Back then, it was found able to boost the memory of healthy mice. Teaming up with neuroscientist Susanna Rosi, they proceeded to test its effects in mice with brain injuries. After testing it on two separate groups of mice (who hadbrain trauma induced under anesthesia)they found that ISRIB improved the performance of the injured mice in two mazes, one in the … Continue reading →

An experimental drug completely reversed severe learning and memory impairments caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice, UC San Francisco scientists report. The researchers said the new study offers a promising new avenue for the treatment of TBI in humans, which affects nearly two million individuals annually in the U.S. one every 21 seconds. The drug fully restored the ability to learn and remember in the brain-injured mice even when the animals were first treated as much as a month after injury. The latter results are particularly surprising, as most research on brain injury and stroke has suggested that treatments must be initiated as quickly as possible to preserve normal function. In addition to causing serious cognitive deficits, which can be short-lived or permanent, traumatic brain injury is also a leading risk factor for the development of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. But dozens of seemingly promising treatments have failed in clinical trials, and no approved therapies are currently available. The drug used in the new research, known as ISRIB (pronounced iz-rib), was discovered in 2013 in the laboratory of Peter Walter, PhD, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF and co-senior author of the new study. … Continue reading →

In May 2016, Michael Severloh was biking to Vancouver's Emily Carr University of Art + Design when he was struck by a car. The 30-year-old slammed into the windshield, flew over six metres, then crashed into the ground. Yet despite the severity of his brain injury according to his acting physician, crashes like his typically result in death or permanent brain damage Severloh's recovery has been smooth and steady. Since his accident, Severloh has relearned how to walk, began to drive, and settled into the familiar rhythms of life with his wife Janis, family and friends. And next fall just over a year after the trauma he'll return to university full time. He owes his recovery, he said, to two things: Wearing his helmet, and Vancouver General Hospital's (VGH) head-injury treatment program. "I'd never want it to happen to anybody," reflected Severloh. "But if you're going to get a head injury, Vancouver's the place to do it they're set up for it." Since 2015, the VGH team has been using a new technique known as advanced multimodal neuromonitoring to treat severe head injuries. The approach was developed at the University of Cambridge and was brought to VGH by Dr. Mypinder … Continue reading →