Brain Damage, Brain Repair

Many neurological conditions are caused by damage to neurons and glial cells. For most of these diseases there are at present no effective treatments to minimise the extent of neuronal and glial loss, and no effective way of replacing what has been lost. This picture is rapidly changing. Developments in basic neuroscience have produced various potential therapies that can protect neurons and glia following traumatic, anoxic, infectious and immunological damage. The old doctrine that axons cannot be made to regenerate, and dead neurons cannot be replaced is no longer tenable, and a wide variety of reconstructive techniques for the nervous system are under development. These and other basic science discoveries will progress into clinical practice, and lead to a revolution in neurology and neurosurgery. This book describes the various conditions that lead to damage to the nervous system, and the ways in which they may be ameliorated. It covers the burgeoning science of reconstruction of the nervous system, through neuronal, glial and stem cell transplantation, axon regeneration, remyelination, plasticity and pharmacological interventions. The clinical conditions to which these treatments will be applied and their assessment are described. This is the first book to cover this enormous and expanding field of neuroscience and neurology. It will be useful to students and scientists working in the field of nervous system damage and reconstruction, and also to clinicians who wish to look forward to the developments which will shape the future of their practice