holy shit a team at EPFL in switzerland just published a paper...
vittorio@IterIntellectus
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Feb 17, 2025
~2 min read
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1
holy shit
a team at EPFL in switzerland just published a paper where they restored walking in people with spinal cord injuries using deep brain stimulation (DBS).
this isn’t just nerves reconnecting. they targeted a new brain region for movement
the results are insane
1/
a team at EPFL in switzerland just published a paper where they restored walking in people with spinal cord injuries using deep brain stimulation (DBS).
this isn’t just nerves reconnecting. they targeted a new brain region for movement
the results are insane
1/
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normally, DBS is used for things like parkinson’s by stimulating motor-related brain areas.
but in this study, researchers targeted the lateral hypothalamus (LH), a region better known for controlling hunger and arousal.
and it WORKED
but in this study, researchers targeted the lateral hypothalamus (LH), a region better known for controlling hunger and arousal.
and it WORKED
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one participant said: “i feel the urge to walk.” imagine hearing that from someone who’s been partially paralyzed for years
they didn’t just regain motion during the stimulation. the effects lasted even after the device was turned off.
this is neural rewiring.
they didn’t just regain motion during the stimulation. the effects lasted even after the device was turned off.
this is neural rewiring.
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let me break it down:
- DBS in the LH taps into surviving brain-spine connections.
- stimulation reorganizes these pathways, enabling walking.
- in animal studies, it even strengthened the remaining connections over time.
we’re literally hacking the brain
- DBS in the LH taps into surviving brain-spine connections.
- stimulation reorganizes these pathways, enabling walking.
- in animal studies, it even strengthened the remaining connections over time.
we’re literally hacking the brain
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what’s crazy is that they paired this with precision surgery and advanced brain mapping to ensure they hit the exact right spot.
the result? participants could walk, climb stairs, and regain autonomy in ways that seemed impossible just a few years ago
the result? participants could walk, climb stairs, and regain autonomy in ways that seemed impossible just a few years ago
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this isn’t just about spinal injuries. this is proof that the brain can adapt and heal itself when given the right push.
it opens the door to treating a whole range of neurological conditions. stroke, parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, you name it
it opens the door to treating a whole range of neurological conditions. stroke, parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, you name it
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we are entering the era of biotech.
what used to be science fiction is becoming reality:
- we can repair the brain and nervous system.
- we can restore mobility.
- the next step? using this tech to defeat not just disease, but even aging.
what used to be science fiction is becoming reality:
- we can repair the brain and nervous system.
- we can restore mobility.
- the next step? using this tech to defeat not just disease, but even aging.
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the future looks like this:
- combine dbs with spinal implants to treat even complete paralysis.
- integrate with brain-machine interfaces for direct control over prosthetics.
- eventually, we unlock the brain’s full potential.
we’re becoming limitless
- combine dbs with spinal implants to treat even complete paralysis.
- integrate with brain-machine interfaces for direct control over prosthetics.
- eventually, we unlock the brain’s full potential.
we’re becoming limitless
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it's also true that these are still the early days
- only 2 human participants so far.
- focused on incomplete injuries for now.
- scaling this to more people will take time, funding, and more research.
still, the trajectory is clear: we are winning
- only 2 human participants so far.
- focused on incomplete injuries for now.
- scaling this to more people will take time, funding, and more research.
still, the trajectory is clear: we are winning
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what excites me most is what this represents:
- we’re no longer at the mercy of biology.
- we’re rewriting the rules of what humans can do.
- and soon, the only frontier left to conquer will be aging.
the future is going to be extraordinary
- we’re no longer at the mercy of biology.
- we’re rewriting the rules of what humans can do.
- and soon, the only frontier left to conquer will be aging.
the future is going to be extraordinary
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every step forward like this reminds me that we are on the brink of curing paralysis, erasing disease, and maybe even defeating death itself.
if this isn’t exciting to you, idk what to say.
biotech is the revolution. we’re just getting started
if this isn’t exciting to you, idk what to say.
biotech is the revolution. we’re just getting started
