Paralyzed individuals have begun to walk again thanks to brain electrical stimulation.

The hypothalamus is a region of the brain that houses centers responsible for homeostasis (the ability of an organism to maintain a stable composition and properties of its internal environment), thermoregulation, hunger and satiety, thirst and its satisfaction, sexual behavior, fear, and rage. It also plays a role in wakefulness within the "wake-sleep" cycle and regulates the activity of the pituitary gland.

Stimulation of specific areas of the brain is actively utilized in modern medicine to combat various diseases. According to recent research, this method can improve memory, restore cognitive functions in individuals with mental disorders, and help manage overeating.

Deep stimulation of the hypothalamus is commonly applied in the treatment of movement disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. However, specialists from several universities in Switzerland and the neurotherapy center NeuroRestore have discovered an unexpected significance of this brain region for recovery after spinal cord injuries. The results of this fundamental study were published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

When the authors of the publication found that the hypothalamus and its stimulation play a key role in restoring the ability to walk in mice with spinal injuries, they decided to test the experimental treatment on humans. The study involved a male and a female patient who had lost their ability to walk due to injuries several years earlier. For instance, 54-year-old Austrian Wolfgang had been using a wheelchair since 2006, after damaging his spinal cord while skiing.

The researchers thoroughly scanned the brains of each participant in the clinical trials to determine the precise locations for electrode placement for stimulation. The patients were fully conscious during this process to provide feedback to the surgeons.

“As soon as the electrode was placed and we conducted the stimulation, the first patient immediately said: ‘I can feel my legs.’ When we increased the stimulation, she said: ‘I feel the urge to walk!’ This indicated that we had chosen the correct area, even though it was never considered to be associated with leg control in humans,” the scientists reported.

Both participants in the study regained control over their legs to such an extent that they were able to walk and climb stairs without assistance. According to Wolfgang, overcoming a few steps and then taking a walk by the sea was no longer a problem for him. Additionally, the patient was able to reach for items in kitchen cabinets, a capability that had been absent for a long time.

The authors of the article noted that the treatment results persisted not only in the short term but also in the long term — even after the cessation of electrical stimulation:

“This research demonstrates that the brain is essential for recovery after paralysis. Surprisingly, it is unable to fully utilize the neural connections that remain after spinal cord injury. Here, we found a way to engage a small area of the brain that was thought to be uninvolved in the walking process to activate these residual connections and expedite neurological recovery in individuals with spinal cord injuries,” the researchers concluded.

According to the scientists, the results of the study will facilitate faster rehabilitation following spinal cord injuries. In the future, the research team plans to analyze how deep stimulation of the hypothalamus can be combined with other technologies, such as spinal implants, which have already shown effectiveness in restoring movement after spinal cord damage.