A leading international neuroscientist says amazing new research suggests brain cells can be retrained to restore human functions and movement lost due to injury or disease.
The findings have been presented to a conference in Sydney on spinal research.
University of Queensland neuroscientist Parry Bartlett says incredible animal experiments show the optic nerve can be rewired into the part of the brain used for hearing.
"Ferrets learn to see with that part of the brain," Professor Bartlett said.
In part, that explains why some quadriplegics get a return of some movement functions after many years.
Professor Bartlett says Harvard University's Jeff Mackils has shown that brain cells which send signals down the spinal cord to activate muscles can be replaced.
"The really surprising thing was that these cells were able to make new nerve cells that replace these cells," he said.
"That in itself was phenomenal but the more phenomenal thing is that these nerve cells then put out processes that went all the way out into the spinal cord."
He says the research raises the possibility of completely rewiring the connections in the spinal cord and central nervous system.
Professor Bartlett and other neuroscientists at the conference have warned against concentrating only on the promise of stem cells.
Professor Bartlett says stimulation of nervous system regrowth is close and stem cells will eventually be used for regeneration.
"We need to go very quickly and very determinedly in uncovering the mechanisms by which stem cells work," he said.
"The simplistic view that they will somehow replace everything in the spinal cord is simply not true."
Professor Wise Young of Rutgers University in the US says the science of rehabilitation is evolving even faster and that will be vital to go with cures for spinal damage.
Funding
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has announced $20 million in revenue from 10 new speed cameras will be used to improve spinal research and disability services.
NRMA chief executive Rob Carter says it is an encouraging move but more needs to be done.
"We welcome the hypothecation of funds from speed cameras for specific purposes,'' Mr Carter said.
"What we'd like to see is the Government commit in this election to extending that to the other cameras on the roads, to have those harnessed specifically for road safety and road safety prevention."