{
  "id": 12132942,
  "title": "Compressing bones releases molecules that ease traumatic brain injuries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/compressing-bones-releases-molecules-that-ease-traumatic-brain",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-05T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2591964-compressing-bones-releases-molecules-that-ease-traumatic-brain-injuries/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pressing down on shin bones for a brief daily period can significantly enhance movement and cognitive abilities in mice and pigs who have recently experienced a traumatic brain injury, according to a study published in Nature Neuroscience. This innovative approach stimulates bone cells that are responsive to physical force, leading to the release of substances that promote positive brain health. Kristian Franze, an independent researcher from the Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine, believes this discovery could pave the way for groundbreaking therapeutic methods in the future.\n\nTraumatic brain injuries often result from sudden impacts to the head or body, such as during falls or car crashes. Each year, over 1 million individuals in England and Wales seek emergency department treatment for recent head injuries, with approximately 40,000 being classified as traumatic brain injuries. Despite extensive research, there is currently no approved drug capable of restoring lost brain function post-traumatic brain injury, and existing physical rehabilitation methods offer only minimal benefits.\n\nResearch has shown that bones release proteins and hormones that influence other organs, including the brain. Xiaochun Bai and his colleagues at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, have discovered that weight-bearing activities like walking or running alter hundreds of these molecules, and traumatic brain injuries can expedite the healing of fractured bones by releasing molecules that stimulate bone growth. This led them to hypothesize that this communication may function in reverse, meaning that stimulating bones could aid in the recovery of an injured brain.\n\nTo test this hypothesis, male mice were subjected to moderate traumatic brain injuries while under anesthesia. The following day, their shin bones were compressed lengthwise using a mechanical loading device, replicating a force about 15 times their body weight. This compression was applied for 2.5 minutes daily over five days. The researchers then evaluated the treated mice's motor and cognitive functions one week and eight weeks post-injury and found that the treated mice exhibited significantly improved performance compared to the untreated control group.\n\nThe study further revealed that the bone-compression intervention increased the levels of three key molecules in the treated mice's serum: BDNF (which supports neuron survival, growth, and maintenance), PF4 (involved in inflammation), and dopamine (a neurotransmitter linked to memory and movement). Injections of this serum into untreated mice led to enhanced brain benefits, demonstrating that the therapeutic effect could be transferred without the need for bone compression.\n\nA small study conducted with human participants revealed that those with more severe brain damage had better memory recall, suggesting that other brain regions may compensate for the damaged area. The researchers repeated the experiment in adolescent pigs, whose brains resemble humans more closely. The pigs' shin bones were compressed to a load equivalent to twice their body weight, and the results showed reduced neuron and brain tissue loss, decreased inflammation, and improved cognitive performance compared to the untreated pigs. Notably, the treated pigs also had elevated levels of the three molecules in their serum.\n\nWhile the experiments showed no visible damage or bruising, the researchers recommend further investigation in female animals, considering estrogen's role in bone response to mechanical load. If these findings prove consistent in females and eventually humans, this method could significantly benefit patients in intensive care units who are unable to exercise.",
  "summary": "Pressing down on shin bones improved cognitive and motor symptoms in mice and pigs with traumatic brain injuries",
  "key_points": [
    "Pressing shin bones daily for 2.5 minutes enhances movement and cognition in injured mice and pigs.",
    "Bone compression releases BDNF, PF4, and dopamine, promoting brain health.",
    "Human study shows improved memory recall in those with more severe brain damage."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}