Researchers from the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ITEB RAS) have found that betahistine, a drug long used to treat Meniere’s disease and vestibular vertigo, can protect brain cells from death and restore them after injury. It suppresses the symptoms of dizziness and also triggers recovery processes at the cellular level. According to the researchers, the neuroprotective properties of betahistine have long been underestimated.
As noted by Irina Mikheeva, a leading researcher at ITEB RAS, the study demonstrated that the drug is effective when administered after the damaging event. This opens up prospects for its use in neurodegenerative diseases, ischemia, and other conditions associated with damage to the vestibular system.
The discovery was made while studying vestibular dysfunctions, which affect about a third of patients over 40 years of age. Such disorders are also frequently detected in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.
In experiments on mice subjected to intense vestibular stimulation, the animals that received betahistine recovered motor activity more quickly. Five days after the procedure, the level of inflammation in their brains returned to normal, whereas in the control group mice signs of inflammation persisted.
Another promising development by Russian scientists could assist in complex surgical interventions. A research team from the Institute of Automation and Control Processes of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has created a method of imaging photoplethysmography (a “green flashlight” for blood vessels) that allows visualization of deep tissues and will aid in surgical operations.