Scientists Discover Why Damaged Nerves Struggle to Heal Researchers at The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine have made a significant breakthrough in understanding why damaged nerves struggle to heal.
A key player in this process is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a protein previously thought solely responsible for detecting environmental toxins.
The study, published in Nature, reveals that AHR restricts axon growth by prioritizing survival over repair. When neurons are injured, they must choose between managing stress and rebuilding damaged connections.