According to U.S. researchers common and safe blue food dye may turn out to be the best treatment available so far for spinal cord injuries. The researchers further explain that when the nerve cells in the brain or spine are damaged, they often release a spurt of chemicals that causes nearby cells to die. Only when this process is stopped, damage that continues to build after a stroke or spinal cord injury can be prevented. One of the chemicals is ATP. Scientist found the blue dye, which they called BBG, would do this via the P2X7R receptor or doorway. Maiken Nedergaard of the University of Rochester Medical Center cautioned that tests in humans are likely still years away.

[Reuters]