Paralysis News and Research

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Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.

New study identifies specific brain cells most vulnerable to ALS and dementia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) belong to a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases with overlapping symptoms, characterized by muscle wasting, paralysis, dementia, and other serious impairments.

12 Mar 2026

Viagra ingredient improves symptoms in patients with Leigh syndrome

Sildenafil – an active ingredient also marketed under the name of Viagra – improves symptoms in patients with Leigh syndrome.

11 Mar 2026

Combining stem cell therapy with fetal surgery shows promise for treating myelomeningocele

A phase 1 clinical trial published in The Lancet has shown that combining stem cell therapy with standard fetal surgery before birth is a safe and promising approach to treat myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida.

26 Feb 2026

Morning chronotype and exercise associated with reduced ALS risk

Being an early bird, also called a morning person, and being more physically active are associated with lower risks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a preliminary study released February 25, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18-22, 2026, in Chicago and online.

25 Feb 2026

No evidence connects tick bites to chronic health problems

When researchers studied Norwegians who thought tick bites caused their chronic health problems, they found no objective evidence linking the symptoms to ticks.

25 Feb 2026

Novel implant delivers tiny growth-promoting particles directly to injured nerve cells

Researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a novel implant that delivers tiny growth-promoting particles directly to injured nerve cells, helping them to regrow after spinal cord injury.

18 Feb 2026

Northwestern scientists develop advanced organoid model for human spinal cord injury

Northwestern University scientists have developed the most advanced organoid model for human spinal cord injury to date.

11 Feb 2026

Study identifies link between gut bacteria and deterioration of the brain in ALS, dementia

A significant discovery by Case Western Reserve University researchers could change how doctors treat two of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

9 Feb 2026

Brain computer interfaces decode imagined speech in paralyzed patients

Last summer, a team of researchers reported using a brain-computer interface to detect words people with paralysis imagined saying, even without them physically attempting to speak.

4 Feb 2026

Targeted therapy for the less impaired arm improves movement for stroke survivors

Traditional stroke rehabilitation therapy focuses on restoring strength and movement to the more impaired side of the body, but a new randomized clinical trial has revealed that targeted therapy for the less impaired arm significantly improved movement and control for stroke survivors.

2 Feb 2026

Remote cognitive and occupational therapy shows promise for improving stroke recovery

In the U.S., a stroke happens roughly every 40 seconds. That means, in the time it takes to read a five-minute news article, more than seven Americans will have experienced this life-changing medical event, which is a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability across the country.

29 Jan 2026

Game-changing discovery reveals how viruses may trigger ALS development

A large, multidisciplinary team led by researchers from Texas A&M University has made a potentially game-changing discovery about the development of devastating motor neuron diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

27 Jan 2026

New prognostic model improves survival prediction for spinal metastasis patients

Spinal metastasis, the spread of cancer to the spine, is a frequent complication in advanced cancer. It often causes severe pain and paralysis, significantly impacting quality of life.

27 Jan 2026

New soft robotic probe enables continuous monitoring of fetus's vital signs

Northwestern University researchers have developed the first device that can continuously track a fetus's vital signs while still in the uterus - a feat that previously has not been possible.

26 Jan 2026

Prolonged exposure to air pollution linked to elevated risk for ALS

Prolonged exposure to air pollution can be linked to an elevated risk for serious neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and seems to speed up the pathological process, report researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

20 Jan 2026

Epstein-Barr virus together with a gene variant contributes to onset of multiple sclerosis

One of the leading triggers for multiple sclerosis (MS) is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. However, certain gene variants also play an important role.

13 Jan 2026

Injectable nanomaterial reduces secondary brain injury after ischemic stroke

When a person suffers a stroke, physicians must restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible to save their life.

7 Jan 2026

Bat-borne virus linked to unexplained illnesses in Bangladesh

Infectious disease researchers have identified Pteropine orthoreoviruses (PRVs), a group of newly emergent bat-borne viruses, as the culprit for previously unexplained illness in five Bangladeshi patients, one of whom eventually died with unexplained illness.

5 Jan 2026

High-dose rifampicin does not improve survival in tuberculosis meningitis

Each year, 11 million people worldwide develop tuberculosis, and about 1.4 million die from it. Meningitis occurs in 1–2% of patients and is the most severe complication of tuberculosis, arising when the bacteria reach the brain.

17 Dec 2025

Why the form of vitamin B12 you take may matter more than your intake

This comprehensive review examines vitamin B12 absorption, physiological roles, deficiency states, and dietary sources, with particular attention to differences between natural and synthetic forms. The authors conclude that while all B12 forms raise circulating levels, methylcobalamin may offer advantages in specific clinical contexts, especially where absorption or metabolic conversion is impaired.

10 Dec 2025