And that utopian future in which paralysis is no longer a sentence of no return, has just taken an important step; today, a spinal cord injury usually marks the lives of millions of people forever. But now, a team of researchers from New Zealand demonstrated by making completely paralyzed mice walk again, that this can indeed change.

The research led by the University of Auckland opted for something as delicate as it is ingenious, a biocompatible implant almost like an adhesive neural tape that is placed directly on the spinal cord injury. This microdevice sends small low-frequency electrical discharges, 2 Hz, to be exact, stimulating the regeneration of axons, nerve fibers that normally do not regenerate on their own. This controlled current dialogues with the injured tissue, encouraging the formation of new connections and rebuilding the broken bridge between the brain and the body.

In testing, the process was as careful as it was promising. The mice received one hour of electrical stimulation per day, five times a week, for 12 weeks. This treatment not only reactivated movements, but also restored some sensitivity to touch, something essential for those living with paralysis. And the most encouraging detail is that all this happened without aggressive injections or destructive surgeries. Unlike previous techniques that combined implants with chemicals, this method is minimally invasive, preserving the fragile structure of the spinal cord from further trauma.

If it works in humans, the impact could be colossal. Today millions of people live with some degree of paralysis depending on wheelchairs and palliative therapies. Now, with this type of implant, the door opens to a treatment that, combined with physiotherapy and rehabilitation, could restore motor and sensory functions.

It is not just about walking again, but about recovering autonomy, dignity and quality of life. This study was with mice, but in the future it will be with humans.