Myelin Linked to Speedy Recovery of Human Visual System After Tumor Removal

A cutting-edge imaging method has revealed new details regarding how the brain heals itself after tumor removal; including new, dynamic information regarding how visual nerves recover. Researchers from the University of Rochester published a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine detailing the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the healing process of visual nerve fibers in patients during recovery from brain-tumor removals. The scans discovered how myelin insulates neuron connections, and protects them from water exposure, and how varying levels of myelin predicted the overall healing rate when inadequate insulation led to malfunctions and further damage. By testing for myelin levels, in-depth progress of healing could be determined and vision restoration could be predicted. “This kind of research will create novel treatments to fix broken nervous systems. Harnessing new technologies to help us understand how the brain repairs itself and restores function, and how we can accelerate that process will be one of the keys to restoring neurological function in a wide range of conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and traumatic brain injury,” said the lead researcher. To learn more about this study, click here.