A recent study at Stanford University has shown great results in treating stroke patients and reducing disability several months to years after the stroke happened. In a proof-of-concept experiment, implanting stem cells harvested from bone marrow in the brain tissue affected by a stroke, yielded impressive improvements in functionality. New movement and capacities were seen and shocked the researchers.
Further testing is in order to see if these initial results hold up, but if they do, this experiment will upend our concepts of the permanence of stroke injury and we will have to revisit how healing takes place in the brain.