Oxygen Deprived Brains Repaired and Saved

Oxygen Deprived Brains Repaired and Saved.

Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute Scientists have found special proteins that help protect the brain after it has been damaged by lack of oxygen, which take place in situations such as stroke, near-drowning and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Nicole Jones and her team of scientists discovered that during oxygen deficiency, or ‘hypoxia’, the proteins (HIF1б and PHD2) increase. These proteins control processes like the production of red blood cells, new blood vessels, and the flow of glucose to the brain. The proteins help prevent further brain damage and they repair the damage caused as a result of the initial injury. This discovery takes other scientists one step closer to developing medication and treatment for brain damage related to hypoxia.

Dr. Jones had discovered this by looking at how the body tries to protect itself. She also looked at how the brain acts in response when it is faced with mild, non-damaging hypoxia.

Dr. Jones said, “I found that mild, non-damaging hypoxia actually protected the brain against a subsequent