U.S. Scientists Unveil Groundbreaking Stroke Recovery Drug

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have achieved a monumental leap in stroke recovery with the creation of DDL-920—a drug that mirrors the effects of physical rehabilitation. Testing on mice revealed that strokes disrupt parvalbumin neurons, the brain’s rhythm-keepers responsible for gamma oscillations. These rhythms orchestrate movement, and their breakdown often leaves patients struggling to regain control. While intensive physical therapy can sometimes mend this, it doesn’t work for everyone.

Enter DDL-920, crafted in UCLA’s labs under Dr. Varghese John’s guidance. This trailblazing drug jolts parvalbumin neurons back to life, reviving gamma oscillations and rebuilding lost neural pathways. In trials, mice treated with it regained full movement—a feat previously tied to grueling rehab alone. This could be a game-changer, as no medication has ever stepped in where physical therapy falls short.

Stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability, with many unable to fully bounce back. Dr. S. Thomas Carmichael, the study’s lead, envisions DDL-920 as a lifeline—offering a simpler path to recovery. Though still in the animal-trial phase, this breakthrough signals a bold new hope for stroke survivors worldwide.