New study sleep aids could help stroke patients

Hope for Stroke Patients: Sleep Aid Helps Regenerate Brain
Every year, around 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. Many sufferers live with severe disabilities following this condition. A sleeping aid could help regenerate damage to the brain more quickly.

Strokes often cause serious damage to the brain. For example, those affected are no longer able to eat or get dressed alone. In a recent study on mice researchers from the California "Stanford University" now found that the animals regenerated by the drug of a sleep aid much faster from strokes. This knowledge could also help people in the future to recover faster from their strokes, explained the doctors.

A sleep aid may help stroke patients to recover. (Image: freshidea / fotolia.com)

Every year, around six million people die worldwide from strokes
Strokes are very common in our society today. Each year, nearly six million people die from a stroke. The survivors often have problems with muscle weakness and paralysis. These are caused by an interruption of the blood supply to the brain. A sleeping pill could help those affected. For example, many stroke survivors may be able to eat or walk alone on their own while taking the hypnotic "zolpidem," which would significantly improve the lives of patients and their caregivers, the Californian medical community explains.

Study on mice proves: "Zolpidem" makes the brain regenerate faster.
In hospitals, there is currently only one drug that can help those affected to stem damage from a stroke. However, the remedy must be taken a few hours after the event, explain the scientists in the current study. Thereafter, there is only the possibility to treat the consequences of the disease by physiotherapy. However, there is hope for stroke patients: A remedy for insomnia helps with a faster recovery. The sleeping drug "Zolpidem" is offered under the brand names "Stilnoct" or "Ambien". Researchers at Stanford University in California found that mice with stroke regained recovery much faster. It was important that the drug was still effective, even if several days had passed since stroke, the doctors said in their study.

Reinforced key signals to repair the brain?
In the study, the test mice were stuck pieces of tape under their paws. Any healthy animal would notice this immediately and remove the tape immediately, the researchers said. It took a month for the mice who had previously had a stroke to regenerate to the point where they were able to feel the tape and then remove it. However, when the mice were given "zolpidem" a few days after their stroke, the rodents noticed the tape a few days later. These mice also regained their balance and dexterity much faster, the doctors said. The researchers suspect that the drug amplifies key signals to repair the brain. New studies on other animals would first have to prove whether the active substance only accelerates the regeneration or even improves it, the scientists explained.

Research still at an early stage, exactly unclear effects on humans
The dosages used in the study were too low to make the animals drowsy, which is why stroke patients should not feel tired when taking them, the researchers explain. However, there are many more studies needed before the drug could be used in people after a stroke, the American scientists. However, the current results suggest that "zolpidem" can help stroke patients recover faster. The research is still at a very early stage, the doctors added. Therefore, it can not be estimated exactly how the drug would affect people with a stroke. First, a clinical study must be carried out, which examines any negative effects. Only in this way could a future treatment with "zolpidem" be justified, the researchers from California added.