Lab-grown brains clue on head injury dangers

MINI human “brains” grown in a lab have brought scientists a step closer to understanding how to prevent dementia after a serious head injury.

Researchers grew the pinhead-sized brain structures – or organoids, tiny versions of organs used for study – before firing high-intensity ultrasound waves at them to simulate the impact of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

They found the injured organoids showed features similar to brain injury patients, including signs of nerve cell death and changes in proteins.

A key protein called TDP-43 – fundamental to DNA production – also leaked out the nuclei of cells and was unable to do its job after injury.

The team then looked for ways to prevent damage.

Blocking a gene called KCN2 appeared to have a protective effect on the organoids, and in tests with mice. It is hoped targeting this gene could lead to treatments to reduce the impact of TBIs.

These injuries can increase a person’s risk of dementia and neurodegenerative conditions. More than one million people in the UK are thought to be living with long-term symptoms linked to TBIs.

Justin Ichida, an expert at the University of Southern California stem cell lab that conducted the research, said the findings “could have potential as either a post-injury treatment or as a prophylactic for athletes and others at high risk for TBIs”.

Concerns have grown in recent years over the link between repeated impacts sustained during sports such as rugby, football, boxing and wrestling, and declining brain health.

TBI is a leading case of death and disability in people under the age of 40 and can lead to a range of lifelong health issues including dementia, epilepsy and poor mental health.

Jess Tobin, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These initial findings will need to be repeated to find out if they’re the same in people. There’s a long way to go.”

The study was published yesterday in the journal Cell Stem Cell.