Jul 10, 2025 12:00:00

Compound discovered that may directly repair brain damage

Traumatic brain injury caused by physical impact to the head can be quickly recovered from mild to moderate damage, but severe damage can cause memory and attention problems, personality development and communication skills, and there were no approved drugs that directly repair or prevent brain damage. Researchers at the University of Georgia have announced that they have discovered a compound that may enhance the brain's self-healing ability after injury.

Catalase Activity in the Brain Is Associated with Recovery from Brain Injury in a Piglet Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/608

New compound may help the brain heal itself after injury
https://news.uga.edu/new-compound-may-help-the-brain-heal-itself/

A compound based on natural antioxidants called 'CMX-2043,' developed by Franklin West, a professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia, has attracted attention for its ability to activate the brain's natural defenses. 'We saw a clear increase in enzymes after administration of CMX-2043,' West explains. 'Enzymes are like the cleaning crew that rushes to the scene after an injury. This suggests that this treatment may be intervening in the areas of the brain that need support the most.'

CMX-2043 was originally studied as a treatment for heart damage. In the course of research, it was found that the antioxidant CMX-2043 helps prevent damage caused by free radicals , which are highly reactive and unstable molecules, in the body when there is a shortage of antioxidants to remove them. Free radicals have the property of trying to steal electrons from other molecules, which can damage cells, DNA, proteins, lipids, etc. through 'oxidative stress,' so antioxidants can prevent damage to the heart and brain.

West's research is the first to observe the activity of brain-specific enzymes in antioxidant experiments on pigs. In the experiment, crossbred piglets aged 6 weeks and weighing approximately 12 to 18 kg were randomly selected and given a corn-based diet formulated to meet the prescribed metabolic and nutritional requirements. They then created a brain injury model using the same method as in previous studies. They then administered subcutaneous CMX-2043 or a placebo, and compared the results by performing MRI scans 1, 7, and 42 days later.

Results showed that there was a significant time-dependent effect on antioxidant activity after traumatic brain injury, and piglets treated with CMX-2043 showed a significant reduction in MRI markers of brain injury compared to piglets treated with a placebo instead, the researchers reported.

'What surprised me was that CMX-2043 did not directly cause changes in antioxidant enzyme levels,' said Park Hae-jin, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia and lead author of the study. 'These changes were actually the body's own response to injury, but CMX-2043 may have helped strengthen the body's defense system.' In addition, co-author Erin Kaiser said of the significance of the discovery, 'The stronger the brain's antioxidant defenses were, the less damage we saw in the MRI scans. This is a major achievement. By strengthening the brain's own repair system, we may be able to promote brain healing.'

Future studies will use non-invasive tools such as magnets to track responses to CMX-2043 in real time and explore how the drug might be useful for treating brain injuries in humans.