Electrical Stimulation Shows Promise in Preventing Brain Damage After Stroke: Study

New Study Shows Electrical Stimulation Can Prevent Brain Damage from Stroke

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has found that applying electrical stimulation around the clotted area can reduce brain damage caused by stroke. The findings were published in the JAMA Network Open and reported by the health medicine webzine ‘Health Day’.

The research team, led by Professor Mercede Bar-Hosseini from the Department of Neurology at UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, conducted a clinical trial on 10 stroke patients within 24 hours of having a stroke. Seven patients received electrical stimulation treatment, while three received sham stimulation treatment. Electrical brain stimulation treatment, commonly used for mental disorders such as depression, involves attaching electrodes to the scalp and sending a minute current to the affected brain area.

The results showed that in the group of patients who received electrical stimulation, 66% of the penumbra, which refers to the reversible tissue around the ischemic core that becomes irreversible after a stroke, remained intact. In contrast, the group of patients who received sham stimulation showed no preservation of the penumbra. Brain images taken after treatment also revealed improved blood flow in the electrical stimulation group, while blood flow decreased in the sham stimulation group.

Professor Bar-Hosseini stated, “The result proves that electrical stimulation therapy has a genuine biological effect. If the effect is proven through large-scale clinical trials, it will become a standard first aid technique in case of a stroke.” Currently, two standard treatments are available for ischemic stroke, including mechanical clot removal and drug injection. However, not all patients qualify for these treatments, and even among those who do, 20 to 30% may experience long-term disabilities.

The researchers explained that electrical stimulation expands the size of blood vessels in the brain, allowing more blood to flow and preventing vessel damage. It also has the effect of loosening clots that caused the stroke. Additionally, electrical stimulation protects brain tissue by stopping additional neural activity in brain cells. However, it is important to note that electrical stimulation therapy is only suitable for ischemic stroke caused by blood clots and not for hemorrhagic stroke (cerebral hemorrhage).

Further research and large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of electrical stimulation therapy for stroke patients. If proven successful, this technique could become a standard first aid procedure for stroke treatment, potentially reducing the long-term disabilities associated with the condition.

For more information, the full paper can be found at the following link.

What potential benefits does electrical stimulation offer for stroke patients in later stages of recovery, and what research is needed to determine the optimal timing and duration of treatment

Received electrical stimulation, there was a significant reduction in brain damage compared to the group that received sham stimulation. The researchers used MRI scans to measure the size of the stroke lesions in the brain and found that the stimulated group had smaller lesions on average.

According to Professor Bar-Hosseini, the electrical stimulation helps to increase blood flow to the affected area, which can prevent further damage and promote healing. It also has the potential to reduce inflammation and improve the brain’s ability to repair itself.

This study is a promising step towards finding new treatments for stroke patients, as it demonstrates the potential of electrical stimulation to prevent brain damage. Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and finding ways to minimize its impact on the brain is crucial for improving outcomes for patients.

The researchers hope to conduct larger clinical trials to further investigate the potential benefits of electrical stimulation in stroke patients. If these trials yield similar results, electrical stimulation could become a standard part of stroke treatment in the future.

While this study focused on the use of electrical stimulation in the early stages of stroke, it is possible that it could also have benefits for patients in later stages of recovery. Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing and duration of electrical stimulation treatment for stroke patients.

Overall, this study is a significant advancement in stroke research, showing that electrical stimulation has the potential to protect the brain from further damage. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism behind this effect and to determine the best protocols for using electrical stimulation in stroke treatment.