Non-invasive zaps to the spinal cord can treat paralysis—but no one knows why - eviltoast
The benefits may seem small, but they can make a world of difference, patients say.
  • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    3·
    6 months ago

    True, but the difference is like trying to throw a dart at a bullseye with your eyes closed, vs a bench top rifle and a 10x scope. An exact understanding of why could much more quickly lead to hitting that bullseye and making it work 10 fold faster and better. Aspirin started off as people chewing on tree bark and getting stomach pain as a side effect of removing another pain. We figured out how and why it worked, removed wood chewing, removed the stomach pain, and were then also able to develope other pain killers based on how it worked, like ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nsaids.

    • Tylerdurdon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      6 months ago

      There’s no real reason you can’t develop both simultaneously. I’m not discounting the need to find a root cause. Of course it would have substantial benefits as you describe. However, sometimes it’s better to make marginal improvements to be able to better help people right now than to wait 20 years until we understand the why’s. Medical breakthrough can take quite a while sometimes (sometimes never).