UCLA discovers first stroke rehab drug in mice

Researchers at UCLA Health have found a new drug that could change stroke rehabilitation. This drug, tested on mice, seems to mimic the benefits of physical therapy for stroke recovery. Stroke is a major cause of disability in adults. Many patients struggle to fully recover after a stroke, and there are currently no effective drugs to help them. Instead, patients rely on physical rehabilitation, which often has limited effects. Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, the lead author of the study, aims to develop a medicine that can produce the same benefits as rehabilitation. In their research, Carmichael and his team explored how rehabilitation improves brain function after a stroke. They discovered that the stroke damages brain connections, affecting areas far from the initial injury. This disruption hinders coordination necessary for movement and stability. The team identified a specific type of neuron, called parvalbumin neurons, which plays a key role in brain activity. After a stroke, these neurons lose their connections, leading to a decrease in coordinated brain rhythms known as gamma oscillations. Effective rehabilitation appears to restore these oscillations and repair some of the lost connections. The researchers tested two potential drugs that could activate parvalbumin neurons. One drug, named DDL-920, showed promising results in helping mice recover control of their movement. This study highlights two important points. First, it identifies critical brain circuits involved in rehabilitation. Second, it suggests a new drug target to enhance stroke recovery. More research is needed to ensure the safety of DDL-920 before testing it in humans.