Source: University of Edinburgh
Date: April 11, 2011
Summary:
Scientists have pinpointed a gene that controls how quickly a person’s nerves can regenerate after injury or disease.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh say the find could lead to better understanding and treatment of conditions that affect the body’s nerves, such as motor neurone disease and carpal tunnel syndrome. Scientists say the discovery could also help to predict how quickly a person’s nerves will recover from a severe physical trauma, such as being involved in a car accident. In the long term, the research could help to develop more appropriate treatment programmes for those people who are likely to experience a slow recovery. The findings have been published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.
