Parkinson's and stem cells
Jordan Gallagher, Hailey Aurilia
What are stem Cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials, cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle or bone. No other cell in the body has the natural ability to generate new cell types.
Where do stem cells come from?
Stem cell therapy for Parkinson's
-" Survived in the long term and restored production of dopamine in the brain"
-"Function in a similar way to dopamine cells of the human fetal mid-brain"
-"Are capable of producing long distance links to the correct parts of the brain"
-"The axons that they grew met the requirements for use in humans"
The final step to the research is to prepare for human clinical trials. The team hopes the cells will be ready for human critical trials in about three years.