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July 3, 2006

Doctors 'discover' brain repairs itself

Topics: The Truth About PVS

But, their "discovery" doesn't "apply" to individuals like Terri Schiavo:

Following for release at 5 p-m, Eastern time UNDATED (AP) _ For the first time, doctors say they have proof the brain can grow its own repairs.

Their evidence is a 42-year-old man who regained speech and movement after being barely conscious for nearly 20 years. The scientists say Terry Wallis' brain spontaneously rewired itself by replacing the tiny nerve connections that were cut in a car crash.

Wallis still can't walk, but his speech has steadily improved since he stunned his family by talking three years ago.

A rehabilitation chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center says such cases are more "like winning the lottery" than a cure.

And the researchers caution their discovery doesn't apply to patients in a persistent vegetative state like Terry Schiavo (SHY'-voh), who died last year after a bitter right-to-die fight.

What a great story - too bad these researchers have not "discovered" what others know about PVS.

Posted by tim at July 3, 2006 8:13 PM

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