Researchers have developed a method to transform stem cells into the brain cells generally affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that affects a person’s ability to remember, make decisions and judgments, more commonly affecting people over the age of 60.
This breakthrough in stem cell research provides the potential to repair the damage caused by Alzheimer’s and restore cognitive function in people affected with the brain disease.
Stem cells have been the focus of many research efforts across numerous diseases. Stem cells have shown the ability to take on the function of many different cell types such as skin cells, liver cells and now brain cells.
Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital of Chicago have developed a technique allowing stem cells to transform into the brain cells known as basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. These brain cells are generally affected by Alzheimer’s and this advancement in stem cell technology may be the beginning of new treatment options.
Alzheimer’s disease typically destroys these brain cells but researchers placed the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons formed from stem cells into the brains of mice. Once there, these cells formed new connections with the surrounding cells and began producing acetylcholine, just like normal brain cells.
with an easy supply of these brain cells available from stem cells, this research may provide a mechanism to develop new treatment options for Alzheimer’s patients. It also opens the door to brain cell transplantation as a treatment for Alzheimer’s.
My father is 68 and has alzhemers. I have had 3 children and saved their blood cord. What can we do? Please help.