Recent research that targets the potential failure of mitochondria in children with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), seeks to pinpoint an approach to stimulate and heal it.

Jose Pineda, MD, MScan, assistant professor at Washington University School of Medicine, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo, is leading the research. Pineda says that he and his team have confirmed their hypothesis, “Which is that, indeed the mitochondria of children with brain injuries is failing, and it’s been failing for many weeks,” Pineda explains.

Pineda adds that a potential treatment would involve administering a medication that will travel to the injured brain and directly into the mitochondria. Researchers would ultimately want to target, “A pharmacological treatment that will stabilize the mitochondria or some key component of an injury…” Pineda says. “We anticipate that should result in the first few days in less brain swelling, less neurocritical intensive care and long-term faster recovery,” he adds.

A recent news release indicates that current clinical trials are being implemented to test this type of medication in adults. The release also spotlights an unrelated study that encompassed a similar therapeutic approach in adult TBI patients. The study’s findings indicate that patients exhibited improved function 30 days following surgery and a reduced mortality rate of more than 60%. 

Further research is reportedly being implemented to develop medication aimed at mitochondrial stimulation in TBI patients.

Source: Ivanhoe Broadcast News