The diagnosis and management of CNS injuries comprises a large portion of psychiatric practice. Many clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of treating CNS injuries using various regenerative techniques and materials such as stem cells, biomaterials and genetic modification. Therefore it is the goal of this review article to briefly summarize the pathogenesis of CNS injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and cerebrovascular accidents. Next, we discuss the role of natural recovery and regeneration of the CNS, explore the relevance in clinical practice and discuss emerging and cutting-edge treatments and current barriers in the field of regenerative medicine.
Keywords: CNS; recovery; regeneration; spinal cord injury; stem cell; traumatic brain injury.
When a person gets a cut on their skin, the human body can usually repair this injury on its own, allowing this tissue to return to normal function. In some cases, when the central nervous system (CNS) is damaged, the human body’s regenerative capabilities are not sufficient to repair it. There are numerous treatments being explored in the field of regenerative medicine that have the potential to assist the human body in repairing the CNS after significant injury and to improve functionality. This paper explores how pharmacological and stem cell treatments, genetic modifications and implantable biomaterials can help repair damage to the CNS by replacing lost tissue and creating an environment that enhances healing.