One Step Closer to Preventing Strokes

Miracle Water?
If you are reading this blog, more than likely you know someone or know of someone who has suffered from a stroke. Seeing the effects of a stroke on a person is a sad sight. Often times the victim loses control of part of their body and suffer permanent brain damage. In a stroke, a blood clot blocks blood from getting to part of the brain. When this happens many neurons in the brain die because of the lack of blood. This is the cause for much of the neurological problems following a stroke. Although the stroke itself is responsible for much of the damage, the worst is done as the brain tries to recover. As the brain clot denigrates new cells release reactive oxygen species which kill cells around them. Much research is currently taking place to try and reverse the these negative effects. Doctors Mami Noda and Bruce Ransom are testing a new hydrogen enriched drinking water solution that could possibly prevent the reactive oxygen from killing brain cells. In lab test done with rats, parts of their brain's were subject to the same effects of a stroke. Rats that were given the hydrogen enriched water showed a 50 % neuron survival rate; 25% better than the rats that did not receive the enriched water. Scientist believe that the jump in neuron survival is due to the fact that the hydrogen reacts with the oxygen species in the brain in a way that does not affect the neurological activity of the brain. Although this is promising research, it has not yet been tested in humans.

Importance
Strokes are an extremely debilitating condition; victims experience extreme discomfort which can change the rest of their lives. Research such as Ransom and Noda's could lead to preventative treatments or even rehabilitation treatments for strokes. When dealing with a condition like a stroke, any possible helpful research needs to be taken seriously and invested in. If it is possible to prevent something as terrible as a stroke from happening to people, we need to take every step to continue in the efforts of the researchers.

Personal Reflection
Being a Psychology major, the human brain is something I am very interested in. I feel as if we as humans have only scratched the surface of everything our brains do for us and are capable of. I believe that many significant discoveries about the brain are still in store for the future. That is why I am so adamant about research such as Ransom and Noda's. An overall better understanding of the brain is necessary for future breakthroughs whether be in brain function, rehabilitation, or overall structure.

http://discovermagazine.com/2013/march/6-water-cure-stroke