Human organoids reveal how to reverse "irreversible" nerve damage

Researchers at Cambridge have created miniature brain-and-spinal-cord systems in the laboratory that can transmit signals and trigger muscle contractions, offering new hope for nerve damage recovery. The team discovered that human neurons gradually lose their ability to regrow after injury during development, but this capacity can potentially be reactivated. Scientists identified the gene network controlling this process and found that an existing hormone drug dramatically enhanced nerve fiber regrowth. This breakthrough could transform treatment approaches for spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, and other conditions involving nerve damage that were previously considered permanent.