Lamp gas could aid brain patients

Researchers from Imperial College London have found that xenon gas may prevent damaged nerves from dying.

They believe the discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for people with strokes, neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries and other nerve damaging illnesses.

While the gas cannot reverse these conditions, it could prevent further deterioration in patients.

Xenon is a naturally occurring gas. It exists in minute quantities in the atmosphere and is colourless, odourless and tasteless.

It is used extensively in a wide variety of lamps to deliver a very bright white light.

But Professor Nick Franks and colleagues at Imperial College have found the gas may have significant medical benefits too.

They have discovered that xenon stops the brain's receptors from killing off damaged nerve cells.

"The use of xenon could provide a novel medical treatment," Professor Franks said.

"It is naturally occurring and more importantly its known lack of toxicity makes it an attractive candidate as a neuroprotectant in humans."

New treatments

Professor Mervyn Maze, an anaesthetist at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, welcomed the finding.

"This could prove to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from neurological injuries," he said.

"At present, nerve cells cannot regenerate when they die, but by using xenon we may be able to stop those cells from dying in the first place."

The Imperial College scientists are planning to test their finding in clinical trials.

The college has established a spin-off company to oversee the trials and to develop possible clinical applications.

It is working in conjunction with a US company called Air Products.