A newly identified group of spinal cord nerve cells could hold the key to improving breathing in people with spinal cord injuries or certain neurological diseases, according to research published in August in Cell Reports.
Scientists at Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University found that a specific set of interneurons in the brain and spinal cord helps boost breathing when the body is challenged — such as during exercise, high altitude or when carbon dioxide levels in the blood rise. In genetically modified mice, blocking these nerve signals impaired the ability to breathe properly under high carbon dioxide conditions.
The findings could lead to new treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries, ALS or Alzheimer’s disease who struggle to breathe on their own. Researchers are now exploring whether targeting these interneurons can restore breathing function and reduce the risk of respiratory failure in these patients, according to U.S. News & World Report.
