When medicine speaks the body’s language

When medicine speaks the body’s language

Most of modern medicine focuses on creating synthetic drugs in a lab, from more synthetic ingredients; treating some issues while creating new ones. Scientists Wei-Ming Yu, Madelyn A. McCullen, and Vincent C.-F. Chen explored a different approach when looking at nerve injuries by using electricity itself as the course of treatment. They mainly focused on peripheral nerves because of their role as information transmitters through electrical signals between central and peripheral nervous system, functioning as the brain’s own language. 

However, this is not the first time electricity has been used a form of treatment. Historically, other forms of electrical stimulation have been used, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which alters brain activity to simulate seizures. What makes this new study special is the fact that instead of focusing on intensity and frequency, it emphasized how the pattern of electrical stimulation influences the body’s response.  

In the case of peripheral nerves being damaged, communication between the brain and the rest of the body is affected which often leads to a loss of sensation or motor function. Because these nerves are highly dependent on electrical signals, the researchers have explored electrical stimulation as a way to restore communication and promote the regeneration of these synapses. Instead of increasing the strength or frequency of signals are delivered, the scientists suggested that the structure of the signal itself is what actually mattered.  

Ultimately, this study highlighted a shift in how medicine approaches treatment and healing by using the body’s own language. Why introduce new chemicals into the human body when the body already has successful ways of healing itself, all science needs to do is enhance these systems. 

References

Yu, W.-M., McCullen, M. A., & Chen, V. C.-F. (2022). Accelerating peripheral nerve regeneration using electrical stimulation of selected power spectral densities. Neural Regeneration Research, 17(4), 781–782. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.322458

Zhang, M. W. B., & Ho, R. C. M. (2019). Electroconvulsive therapy: Current perspectives. World Journal of Psychiatry, 9(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v9.i1.1