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Nerve Regeneration: Unlocking the Body’s Healing Potential
Nerve damage, whether caused by injury, disease, or surgery, can profoundly impact a person’s quality of life. Unlike many tissues in the human body, nerves have a limited capacity to heal naturally. Peripheral nerves, which connect the brain and spinal cord to limbs and organs, have some ability to regenerate, whereas central nervous system nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord, face significant regenerative challenges. Understanding nerve regeneration is crucial for developing therapies that restore function and improve recovery after neurological injuries.
The process of nerve regeneration involves several complex biological steps. When a nerve is injured, the segment distal to the injury undergoes Wallerian degeneration—a process where the axon and its myelin sheath break down. This breakdown clears debris and creates a favorable environment for regrowth. Schwann cells, specialized glial cells in the peripheral nervous system, play a critical role…