HIV drug is surprise helper in stroke recovery

In 10 seconds? Researchers are testing the usefulness of the HIV drug maraviroc on stroke patients in a clinical trial following an unexpected discovery: the previously approved drug can speed up rehabilitation and cognitive function after traumatic brain injury.

Wow, how is that possible? Scientists have found that the CCR5 protein used by HIV to trick its way into human cells plays a role in the post-stroke recovery of the brain. More precisely, when they switched off the gene that produces the protein, they observed faster recovery in the motor and other skills in lab mice that suffered an induced stroke. The drug treatment helped even when it was administered three weeks after the stroke.