Last year, a study published in the Journal Science Transnational Medicine pointed to a breakthrough which might help stop Cerebral Palsy in its tracks.
Nanomedicine for Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy affects about four in every one thousand children born in the USA. This condition may lead to lifelong disability, which can affect the quality of life of an individual.
Infection, premature birth, and injury to the developing brain can all play a part in the development of this neurological condition. A child born with cerebral palsy may find it hard to reach developmental milestones compared to his peers and may need specialized treatment, therapy, and sometimes even round-the-clock care.
Nanomedicine May Help Mitigate the Development of Cerebral Palsy
This novel treatment makes use of nanoparticles called “dendrimers” attached to medication which is then administered to the baby in order to reduce inflammation in the brain.
This was done as a controlled study on baby rabbits (whose brains also continue to develop after birth). The scientists attached a drug called N-acetylcysteine to the nanoparticles, which was then delivered to cells called “activated mycrogia.” The inflammation of these cells can lead to cerebral palsy. Thus, getting rid of the inflammation can help slow down or stop inflammation before it causes sever brain damage. Mycrogia are also responsible for common diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
This breakthrough medication is still going through rounds of testing to ensure that it’s suitable for humans. Dendrimers haven’t yet been approved for use in humans. More studies will have to be conducted before this kind of treatment will be available, however, we feel it’s only a matter of time before we hear a lot more about this potential treatment.