Researchers map the brain's self-healing abilities after stroke

A recent study from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) Department of Molecular Medicine is shedding new light on how the brain attempts to repair itself after a stroke. The research, published in The Journal of Pathology, focuses on the brain’s “cables”—the nerve fibers—that are severely damaged during a stroke. This damage often leads to lasting impairments, affecting both physical and mental functions.

The brain has a remarkable ability to heal itself by attempting to repair its insulating layer, called myelin, around damaged nerve fibers. However, this process often only succeeds partially, leaving many patients with persistent disabilities. According to Professor Kate Lykke Lambertsen, one of the study’s lead authors, it’s crucial to find ways to help the brain complete its repair process, especially under the challenging conditions following a stroke.

Using tissue samples from Denmark’s Brain Bank, the researchers were able to map areas of the brain most active in this repair process. Through advanced techniques like immunohistochemistry, they identified specific cells involved in rebuilding myelin in damaged areas. This research also revealed that gender plays a role in the brain’s response to stroke. Women seem to face greater challenges due to inflammatory conditions that block repair, whereas men have a slightly better ability to initiate the repair process. This finding emphasizes the need for treatments tailored to an individual’s gender and specific needs.

The study highlights the critical importance of resources like Denmark’s Brain Bank, which provides valuable human brain tissue samples for research into neurological diseases. These discoveries pave the way for more effective stroke treatments, offering hope for better recovery outcomes in the future.

For more details, you can read the full study: Characterisation of GPR17‐expressing oligodendrocyte precursors in human ischaemic lesions and correlation with reactive glial responses, published in The Journal of Pathology (2024).