Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have discovered positive evidence in animal research that reinforcing the diet of a victim of traumatic brain injury can produce positive results in the recovery process. Through a treatment of feeding amino acids to brain-injured mice, scientists found that the rodents were able to recover some of their cognitive brain functions as the added amino acids restore a balance in the brain’s neurochemicals.
This research isn’t unique, as past testing has proven that people with TBI have experienced mild improvements in their cognitive brain functions after having various amino acids administered intravenously. The research being conducted by the Children’s Hospital showed significant progress through the feeding of three specific branched chain amino acids in the water supply of the injured mice. The introduction of leucine, isoleucine, and valine helped balance the brain’s ability to stimulate and inhibit certain functions.
After one week of this amino acid treatment, the injured mice were beginning to show similar responsive traits ‘“ in this specific research it was fear ‘“ as healthy mice. This was a positive sign that the amino acids were returning their natural instincts back toward normal responsive behavior.
As additional research continues with the mice, the Philadelphia team hopes to begin human patient collaboration within the next year.