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Health News Results - 54
Spinal Cord 'Wraparound' Device Could Help Treat Paralysis
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 9, 2024
- Full Page
A tiny, flexible device that wraps around the spinal cord could be a breakthrough in the treatment of spinal injuries.
The device, developed by a University of Cambridge team, can record 360-degree information and provide a complete picture of spinal cord activity, resea...
Spinal Cord Injury Damages Metabolism, and Scientists Now Know Why
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 29, 2024
- Full Page
Patients with a spinal cord injury frequently develop diabetes and heart health problems, and researchers now think they know why.
It appears that neuron activity following the injury causes...
Brain's Cerebellum Could Help Direct Prosthetic Limbs
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 16, 2024
- Full Page
Tapping the power of the small brain region called the cerebellum could improve patients’ ability to move cutting-edge robotic limbs, a new study suggests.
The cerebellum is an ancient structure located under the brain, just above where the spinal cord connects to the ...
Stem Cells From Patients' Fat Can Help Treat Spinal Cord Injuries
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 1, 2024
- Full Page
Stem cells derived from a patient's own fat can safely help improve sensation and movement after a spinal cord injury, a new, small study finds.
Patients treated with these stem cells experienced increased sensation from pinpricks and light touches, increased muscle stre...
Urinary Implant Helps Alert When Patients 'Gotta Go'
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 26, 2024
- Full Page
It's hard for some folks who suffer illness-related urinary incontinence to judge whether they'll be able to hold it until they get home, or if they should rush to a bathroom now.
<...Robotic Hip 'Exoskeleton' Helps With Stroke Rehab
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 5, 2024
- Full Page
A new robotic hip exoskeleton could help stroke patients improve their walking stride, a new study shows.
More than 80% of stroke survivors develop problems walking, often because their step is shorter on one side than the other, researchers explained in background notes...
New Prosthetic Hand Can Sense Objects' Temperature
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 9, 2024
- Full Page
Fabrizio wasn't sure what to expect of his newly outfitted prosthetic hand, until he touched one of the researchers who'd given it to him.
“When one of the researchers placed the sensor on his own body, I could feel the warmth of another person with my phantom hand,”...
Elon Musk Says First Human Has Received Neuralink Brain Implant
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- January 31, 2024
- Full Page
Elon Musk, co-founder of Neuralink, said this week that the company placed the first brain implant in a human over the weekend.
In a statement posted on X, the platform former...
Spinal Cord Injury Triggers Muscle Wasting, Study Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 22, 2023
- Full Page
A spinal cord injury can trigger muscle wasting in patients, causing them to drop more weight and muscle mass than can be explained solely by their paralysis, a new study in mice warns.
This muscle wasting is rapid and severe, and it appears to be linked to a hormone imb...
ALS Robbed Her of Speech, But Technology Is Changing That
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 23, 2023
- Full Page
Many people with Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), first start to lose the ability to move their arms and legs.
That's not Pat Bennett. She can move just fine. She can still dress herself, and she can even use her fingers to type.
...Spinal Cord Injury Could Harm Immune System
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- July 5, 2023
- Full Page
A severe spinal cord injury is traumatic enough, but new research now shows that trauma can trigger an immune deficiency that puts patients at risk for developing life-threatening infections.
A new study from a team of international researchers sheds light on spinal cor...
Immune System Could Play Role in Spinal Cord Injury and Healing
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- May 30, 2023
- Full Page
Age blunts the immune system's ability to respond to spinal cord injuries, new animal research indicates.
But researchers working with mice also found that the membranes surrounding the spinal cord play a key role in the immune response to spinal cord injury, a dis...
Hi-Tech Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk More Naturally
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2023
- Full Page
A Dutch man with paralyzed legs can now stand and walk, thanks to a wireless brain-spine interface that responds to his thoughts by moving his legs.
Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, suffered a spinal cord injury 11 years ago from a bike accident in China that left him unable to walk....
Spinal Cord Injury Can Lead to Dangerously Low Blood Pressure, But New Implant Might Fix That
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 10, 2023
- Full Page
Dangerously low blood pressure is considered an “invisible” consequence of paralysis, adding to the woes of as many as 9 out of 10 people with spinal cord injuries.
Now, a new implant has been developed that treats the problem by delivering electrical stimulation to ...
Spinal Cord Stimulation Gives Big Boost to Arm Function After Stroke
- Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
- February 20, 2023
- Full Page
It's a brutal reality that confronts many recovering stroke patients: After six months or so of rehab, any arm and hand movement not yet restored is unlikely to return.
Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Brings New Freedom to People With Paralysis
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 18, 2022
- Full Page
A severely paralyzed person no longer needs to go through brain surgery to try and steer a motorized wheelchair with their mind, researchers report.
Through an electrode-studded cap placed on their head, several people with quadriplegia -- no function in all four limbs -...
Targeting Key Cells in Spinal Cord Got Paralyzed Patients Walking Again
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- November 9, 2022
- Full Page
In an advance in treating spinal cord injuries, researchers have pinpointed nerve cells that are key to allowing people with paralysis to walk again.
The findings come, in part, from nine patients involved in an ongoing Swiss study that is seeking to restore movemen...
Kids With Bell's Palsy Typically Recover Without Treatment
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 16, 2022
- Full Page
While adults typically need steroid medication to treat Bell's palsy, mo...
Justin Bieber Takes Break From Touring Due to Health Issues
- By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 7, 2022
- Full Page
Singer Justin Bieber said Tuesday that he will take a break from touring while he takes care of his health.
Bieber has a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which...
How Worried Should You Be About New Reports on Polio?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 15, 2022
- Full Page
Poliovirus detected in New York City wastewater last week put public health officials on high alert, as it indicates the potentially paralyzing virus is circulating widely in the area.
But infectious disease experts say there's no need for families of fully vaccinated ch...
B 8/9 -- Ashton Kutcher 'Lucky to Be Alive' After Battle With Vasculitis
- By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- August 9, 2022
- Full Page
Actor Ashton Kutcher is opening up about dealing with a rare condition called vasculitis that for a time left him seriously disabled.
In an episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge,” airing Aug. 14 on National Geographic channel, Kutcher, 44, reveals ...
Could an Experimental Cancer Drug Help Treat Spinal Injury?
- By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
- July 18, 2022
- Full Page
A drug in development as a cancer therapy may also help the body regenerate damaged nerves after spinal injuries, new research suggests.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom report that they used cell and animal models to show that the drug, d...
Novel Injection Repairs Severe Spinal Cord Injuries in Mice
- By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
- April 14, 2022
- Full Page
A brighter future could be in store for people with a spinal cord injury if new animal research pans out in humans.
Mice that were paralyzed due to severe spinal cord damage regained the ability to walk within four weeks of receiving an experimental injectable therapy, s...
Computer Helps 'Locked-In' ALS Patients Communicate, Shop Online
- Dennis Thompson
- March 30, 2022
- Full Page
A handful of "locked-in" amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients can now work a laptop computer using their brain waves, thanks to an implant lodged in a major vein inside their skull.
T...
Brain Implant Helps Completely 'Locked-In' Man Communicate
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 22, 2022
- Full Page
Unable to move a single muscle, even to open your eyes. Completely locked into your own body, yet fully conscious and aware.
COVID Vaccine Won't Cause Rare Neuro Events, But COVID Infection Could
- March 17, 2022
- Full Page
In a finding that reinforces the safety of COVID vaccines, a new study shows that while the shots don't raise the risk of rare neurological problems, COVID-19 infection might.
The researchers focused on four immune-related neurological disorders:
Depression Levels High Among People With Spinal Cord Injuries
- February 11, 2022
- Full Page
Adults with spinal cord injuries have a high risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues -- and chronic pain is a major factor, according to a new study.
Researchers analyzed private insurance claims from more than 9,000 U.S. adults with a traumatic s...
New Technology Restores Movement After Spinal Cord Paralysis
- February 7, 2022
- Full Page
A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury.
That was in 2017.
But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day b...
Gun-Related Spinal Cord Injury in Childhood Brings Hardship Later
- Robert Preidt
- December 28, 2021
- Full Page
Spinal cord injuries in childhood are devastating no matter how they happen, but new research suggests that kids felled by gunshots are even worse off than those who suffer such an injury nonviolently.
Blood Pressure During Surgery May Be Crucial After Spinal Cord Injury
- Robert Preidt
- November 22, 2021
- Full Page
Tight blood pressure control -- not too high and not too low -- during surgery for spinal cord injuries may improve patients' outcomes, a new study suggests.
"Damage to neurons in spinal cord injuries leads to dysregulation of blood pressure, which in turn limits the sup...
Mouse Study Points to Possible Breakthrough Against Spinal Cord Injury
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 12, 2021
- Full Page
Severe spinal cord injuries are incurable today in humans, but a new injectable therapy that restored motion in laboratory mice could pave the way for healing paralyzed people.
The therapy -- liquid nanofibers that gel around the damaged spinal cord like a soothing ...
One Big Factor for Survival After Spinal Cord Injury: Resilience
- Cara Murez
- October 19, 2021
- Full Page
Survivors of spinal cord injuries who develop resilience are able to adapt and thrive despite the challenges, according to a researcher who himself is a resilient survivor.
"For someone with a cord injury, your margin for surviving even small mistakes when it comes to yo...
Post-Stroke Rehab: There's a Sweet Spot in the Timing
- Cara Murez
- September 21, 2021
- Full Page
After a stroke, the best time to work on regaining hand and arm use is 60 to 90 days later, according to a new clinical trial.
Starting intensive rehab at less than 30 days can be helpful, too, but waiting until six months can be too late for maximum benefit, said resear...
Stroke Prevented His Speech, But Brain Implant Brought It Back
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- July 15, 2021
- Full Page
Researchers have developed an implant that allowed a man with severe paralysis to "speak" again by translating his brain signals into text.
The achievement is the latest step in "brain-computer interface" (BCI) research.
Scientists have been studying BCI technology...
Man's Robotic Arm Works Faster With High-Tech Sense of Touch
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 24, 2021
- Full Page
The robot hand extends toward a small cube, guided by signals from electrodes implanted in the brain of partially paralyzed patient Nathan Copeland.
In surprisingly smooth fashion, Copeland's mind directs the robot hand to pick up the cube and move it to another part of ...
'Mind-Reading' Technology Allows Paralyzed Man to Rapidly Text
- Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
- May 12, 2021
- Full Page
A microchip implanted in the brain has allowed a paralyzed man to communicate by text -- at speeds that approach the typical smartphone user.
The achievement is the latest advance in "brain-computer interface" (BCI) systems.
Scientists have been studying BCI techn...
Researchers Use Computers and 'Exoskeletons' to Help Stroke Survivors
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 2, 2021
- Full Page
Stroke survivor Ken Allsford focused intensely on how he wanted to bend his elbow.
And then the robot exoskeleton attached to his left arm obeyed his unspoken command, moving his crippled limb.
"It was a combination of exciting and trepidation, because sometimes no...
B 11/18 Exoskeleton Helps Paralyzed People Walk Again
- Cara Murez
- November 18, 2020
- Full Page
People paralyzed with spinal cord injuries can safely and effectively use an exoskeleton to assist them in walking, a new study finds.
"Participants showed improvement regardless of level of injury, completeness or duration of injury," said Gail Forrest, director of the...
Post-Stroke Rehab at Home May Work Best
- Cara Roberts Murez
- October 21, 2020
- Full Page
Could telehealth help paralyzed stroke victims recover their motor skills faster than they would working directly with a physical therapist?
Yes, claims a new study that found patients who had participated in at least 12 weeks of at-home rehabilitation with live vide...
Elevated Blood Clotting Factor Linked to Worse COVID-19 Outcomes
- Serena McNiff
- September 16, 2020
- Full Page
Most people now know that COVID-19 can cause blood clots, potentially leading to paralysis, stroke, heart attack and death.
While it's not clear precisely how SARS-CoV-2 causes clots, a new study suggests that the amount of a particular protein -- called factor V --...
Mysterious Paralyzing Illness in Kids Is Set to Return, CDC Warns
- Dennis Thompson
- August 4, 2020
- Full Page
A new outbreak of a mysterious, potentially fatal polio-like illness could strike hundreds of American children within the next few months, U.S. health officials warned Tuesday.
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) outbreaks have occurred every two years in the United States...
Coma, Paralysis and Rehab: A Long Road to Recovery for Some COVID Survivors
- Serena McNiff
- July 31, 2020
- Full Page
For Ron Panzok and many patients like him, the battle with COVID-19 didn't end when he left the hospital.
From the ambulance ride to North Shore University Hospital on New York's Long Island to the day he finally woke from a medically induced coma five weeks later, P...
First Good Evidence That Brain Hits 'Replay' While You Sleep
- Amy Norton
- May 5, 2020
- Full Page
If you've ever wondered what your brain is doing while you sleep, a new study gives the first direct evidence that it's busy "replaying" our waking experiences.
The finding comes from a research project called BrainGate, which is testing new technology for people who...
Back in Touch: Technology Restores Hand Sensitivity to Young Quadraplegic
- Alan Mozes
- April 23, 2020
- Full Page
A sense of touch has been restored to a young man who lost it after being left paralyzed from the elbows down following a swimming accident nearly a decade ago.
How? By tapping into almost imperceptible neural signals that can remain even after spinal cord injury, an...
Many Can Suffer Facial Paralysis -- and Its Emotional Toll
- Serena Gordon
- February 4, 2020
- Full Page
Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans develop some form of facial paralysis from a variety of causes.
The loss of facial control and expression that follows can bring sometimes devastating stigma, depression and anxiety, a new study shows.
This seem...
Routine Ear Wax 'Flush' Leaves Woman's Face Paralyzed
- E.J. Mundell
- December 19, 2019
- Full Page
In what doctors say is an extremely rare occurrence, a woman in her 70s went to her doctor to have impacted ear wax removed and wound up with permanent paralysis in her face.
The case report was described by British physicians in the Dec. 19 online edition of JAM...
One Boy's Battle Back From Mysterious Polio-Like Illness
- Serena Gordon
- December 12, 2019
- Full Page
Last October, 15-year-old Alec Woodruff developed a strange-sounding cough. Less than a week later, he was fighting for his life in the hospital, partially paralyzed and with a tube in his throat attached to a ventilator because just breathing was a task he could no longer do ...
'Mobile Stroke Units' Help Rush Treatment to Patients
- Elizabeth Heubeck
- December 5, 2019
- Full Page
If you're in the throes of a stroke, being stuck in an ambulance in big-city traffic is the last place you want to be -- unless you're riding in a specially equipped ambulance called a mobile stroke unit (MSU).
A new study reports that suspected stroke patients in Ne...
Scientists Spot Signs of Virus Behind Disease Paralyzing Kids
- Dennis Thompson
- October 21, 2019
- Full Page
A new antibody test appears to have honed in on the most likely cause of a mysterious polio-like disease that regularly sweeps through the United States.
The new test detected antibodies for two types of enteroviruses in the spinal fluid of dozens of patients diagnos...
Cause of Paralyzing Illness in Kids Remains Elusive
- Amy Norton
- October 7, 2019
- Full Page
There is still no clear cause for a mysterious paralytic condition that has been striking U.S. children over the past five years, government health officials report.
Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suspect that a virus of some kind ...