TOKYO -- A compound that enhances neural transmission in the brain has been found to promote recovery from paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries in monkeys, a Japanese research team recently announced, sparking hope for further research.

An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people in Japan suffer from spinal cord injuries, with about 5,000 new cases annually. The resulting paralysis in limbs significantly reduces quality of life, which has prompted the development of various treatments, though none have effectively overcome the lasting effects. In the latest experiments, administration of the compound in tandem with rehabilitation enabled the monkeys to achieve nearly a full recovery to pre-injury conditions.

The Japanese team including researchers from Yokohama City University focused on a compound called edonerpic maleate, which enhances neural transmission involved in motor functions. Five days after inducing partial spinal cord injuries that impaired hand movements in Japanese macaques, the researchers began administering the compound, and the monkeys underwent rehabilitative training.

After about two months, the monkeys were able to perform tasks like grasping food with their fingers with minimal failure. In contrast, a control group of monkeys not given the compound recovered at only about a 50% success rate on a similar task after rehabilitation.

The team previously reported in the U.S. journal Science in 2018 that edonerpic maleate accelerates recovery in stroke patients, and clinical research of this process is ongoing. They plan to start clinical studies on patients with partial spinal cord injuries within two years.

At a news conference, Takuya Takahashi, a professor from Yokohama City University specializing in physiology, stated, "The compound is easy to use and cost-effective, which is a significant advantage. We plan to investigate its effects on patients with less recent injuries."

The results of the latest study were published March 13 in the journal Brain Communications at https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcaf036. ;

(Japanese original by Ryo Watanabe, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)