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| Vegetative-state patient responds to therapy | Vegetative-state patient responds to therapy |
| (1 day later) | |
| A man in France has regained some degree of consciousness after being in a vegetative state for 15 years. | A man in France has regained some degree of consciousness after being in a vegetative state for 15 years. |
| Doctors treated the 35-year-old, injured in a car accident, with an experimental therapy that involved implanting a nerve stimulator into his chest. | Doctors treated the 35-year-old, injured in a car accident, with an experimental therapy that involved implanting a nerve stimulator into his chest. |
| Within a month, he could respond to simple instructions, turning his head and following an object with his eyes. | Within a month, he could respond to simple instructions, turning his head and following an object with his eyes. |
| Experts say the results are potentially very exciting, but need repeating. | Experts say the results are potentially very exciting, but need repeating. |
| Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may not work as effectively in patients with different patterns of brain damage. | Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may not work as effectively in patients with different patterns of brain damage. |
| But Angela Sirigu, from the Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, in Lyon, said it had chosen a really challenging patient to test the treatment. | |
| The vagus nerve connects the brain to many parts of the body and helps control automatic or subconscious functions, including alertness and wakefulness. | The vagus nerve connects the brain to many parts of the body and helps control automatic or subconscious functions, including alertness and wakefulness. |
| After one month of vagal nerve stimulation, the patient's mother reported he had an improved ability to stay awake when listening to his therapist reading a book. | After one month of vagal nerve stimulation, the patient's mother reported he had an improved ability to stay awake when listening to his therapist reading a book. |
| And brain scans reflected this improvement, Current Biology journal reports. | And brain scans reflected this improvement, Current Biology journal reports. |
| He also started responding to "threat". | He also started responding to "threat". |
| For instance, when the doctor's head suddenly approached the patient's face, he reacted with surprise, opening his eyes wide. | For instance, when the doctor's head suddenly approached the patient's face, he reacted with surprise, opening his eyes wide. |
| Ms Sirigu said: "Brain plasticity and brain repair are still possible even when hope seems to have vanished. | Ms Sirigu said: "Brain plasticity and brain repair are still possible even when hope seems to have vanished. |
| "After this case report, we should consider testing larger populations of patients. | "After this case report, we should consider testing larger populations of patients. |
| "This treatment can be important for minimally conscious patients by giving them more chances to communicate with the external world." | "This treatment can be important for minimally conscious patients by giving them more chances to communicate with the external world." |
| Dr Vladimir Litvak, from The Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, at University College London's Institute of Neurology, said: "This might be an interesting new lead, but I would suggest to be cautious about these results until they are reproduced in more patients. | Dr Vladimir Litvak, from The Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, at University College London's Institute of Neurology, said: "This might be an interesting new lead, but I would suggest to be cautious about these results until they are reproduced in more patients. |
| "It is hard to know based on a single case how likely this treatment is to work in the general patient population." | "It is hard to know based on a single case how likely this treatment is to work in the general patient population." |
| Vegetative state | Vegetative state |
| Source: NHS Choices | Source: NHS Choices |
| Follow Michelle on Twitter | Follow Michelle on Twitter |