UCLA Health finds drug mimicking stroke rehabilitation effects

UCLA Health has made an important discovery in stroke rehabilitation. Researchers found a drug that mimics the effects of physical therapy in mice. This study is a significant step forward, as it is the first of its kind. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. The research examined two candidate drugs based on previous studies about how rehabilitation affects the brain. One of the drugs showed promising results, leading to better movement control in the mice after a stroke. Strokes are a major cause of disability in adults. Many stroke patients do not fully recover, and there are currently no effective drugs for stroke recovery. Patients typically rely on physical rehabilitation, which can be only somewhat effective. The aim is to develop a medication that offers the same benefits as rehabilitation. Many patients struggle to maintain the intensity required for effective recovery. Unlike other medical fields, stroke recovery lacks available drugs. Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, the study's lead author, emphasized the need to advance rehabilitation into a new era of molecular medicine.