Why is it so difficult to find effective neuroprotective treatments?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Chris S. Bailey | Published: 22 January 2018 | Updated: ~
Secondary injury is a complicated process that scientists are still working to understand. While there are many promising treatments currently being studied, there are no widely accepted treatments so far. Neuroprotection is a relatively new area of study compared to other aspects of medicine and there are a number of other factors that makes neuroprotection difficult to study.
Testing experimental treatments is lengthy and expensive
Most neuroprotective treatments are experimental and have not been tested in humans. This means that each treatment must undergo vigorous testing to determine if it is safe and effective. There are several phases of study that must be done. Usually, research studies are tested on animals first, and then typically go through at least three phases of human studies (
Phase I, II, and III clinical trials
) before a treatment can be determined to be safe and effective for real world use. These trials can cost millions of dollars and take several years to complete.
Designing and conducting high quality studies is very difficult
It is also very difficult to design and carry out high quality studies. There are many factors relevant to the design and how the study findings are analyzed that can affect the study’s findings. This is why many previous research studies (such as those done on methylprednisolone), are controversial even amongst experts.
In addition, neuroprotection treatments are usually given immediately after the injury during a highly stressful and confusing period. It can be challenging for patients and their families to determine whether they want to take part in a study and give their consent to participate.
Promising experimental treatments often do not translate into effective treatments
Unfortunately, many treatments that are shown to be effective in animal studies do not go on to show the same effects in the real world scenarios involved in clinical trials. Translating research into effective treatments is a complex process with many steps that are undertaken to ensure that treatments are safe and effective.
Because secondary injury is so complex, some researchers believe that it is unlikely that one single treatment will be discovered that will completely “protect” the spinal cord from further damage. Research may lead clinicians to several different treatment options that may be used together or in different situations to help protect the spinal cord from further damage.
