Brain Capable of Self-renewal from Damage

Brain has an extraordinary capacity to self-repair from damage, reveals results from new studies.

The animal studies propose ways to prevent or limit damage after blood and oxygen deprivation and blood clots.

Ginkgo Extract may Reduce Stroke Damage
Researchers have revealed that daily dose of a standardized extract from the leaves of the ginkgo tree can prevent or reduce brain damage after an induced stroke.

Stroke is the number one cause of long-term disability and the third leading cause of death in the developed world. Limiting the damage caused by stroke would improve patient prognosis.

An animal study found that sensory stimulation protects against stroke damage if administered within the first two hours of stroke onset, whether animals were awake or anaesthetized.

Another study suggested that auditory stimulation delivered soon after a stroke protects from damage.

Enzyme To Lower Glutamate Levels To Reduce Stroke Damage
Glutamate levels in the brain can be lowered through a naturally-occurring enzyme called glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase in order to contain stroke damage.

Scientists also identified a cellular mechanism that blood vessels use to clear their own clots.

"The brain is remarkably robust," said Mark Paul Goldberg, MD, a neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and an expert in brain injury.

Natural Vitamin E in Asian Diet Protects Brain Against Stroke
A natural form of vitamin E called alpha-tocotrienol can trigger production of a protein in the brain that clears toxins from nerve cells, preventing stroke damage.

"Many of the brain's systems have mechanisms that allow it to protect or repair itself. With the help of further research we can better understand these mechanisms and find new applications for treating brain injuries," he added

The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2011, the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting.

Supplement Extracted from Blueberry, Green Tea Protects from Stroke Damage
Researchers have found that a dietary supplement made out of Blueberry, green tea, vitamin D3 and carnosine extracts may protect against stroke damage.

Source-ANI