Thats what happens in many diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis MS, spinal cord injuries, stroke, neonatal brain injuries, and even Alzheimers disease.The cells needed to repair myelin already exist in the central nervous system. Surprisingly, its associated with a protein in the blood. This is why the brain is unable to repair damaged myelin. They are adult stem cells that travel to sites of damage, where they mature into myelin-producing cells. And, without insulation, it may not conduct electricity as well as a coated wire. This could lead to novel therapies to shower niche Manufacturers help patients with MS and many other diseases associated with myelin.The study appears in the journal Neuron.Katerina Akassoglou and her research team at the Gladstone Institutes uncovered a promising new therapeutic strategy. "This blockade could be harmful for regeneration in the brain.

However, in many neurological diseases, this process is blocked. "We found that fibrinogen stops adult stem cells from transforming into the mature cells that produce myelin," explained first author Mark Petersen. For years, scientists have been trying to understand why these repair mechanisms are halted, as overcoming this obstacle holds great potential for treating disabling neurological diseases.Much like that bare wire, the nerve fibers in the brain lose their protective coating, called myelin, and become extremely vulnerable.A new study has found that a blood-clotting protein prevents repair in the brain.In disease, the brain seems to activate mechanisms to repair myelin, but cannot complete the process. This leaves the nerve cells exposed to their environment and reduces their ability to transmit signals quickly, resulting in impaired cognition, sensation, and movement.Picture a bare wire, without its regular plastic coating."Researchers can now look for new ways to target fibrinogen as a way to restore regenerative functions in the central nervous system. Now, imagine this wire is inside your brain. They found that when fibrinogen a blood-clotting protein leaks into the central nervous system, it stops brain cells from producing myelin and, as a result, prevents repair.. Its exposed to the elements and risks being degraded.