Neural progenitor cells attenuate inflammatory reactivity and neuronal loss in an animal model of inflamed AD brain

Stem Cells for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by neurodegenerative changes or apoptosis of neurons involved in networks, leading to permanent paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of the injury. Cell replacement therapy has provided the basis for the development of potentially powerful new therapeutic strategies for a broad spectrum of human neurological diseases. In recent years, neurons and glial cells have successfully been generated from stem cells, and extensive efforts by investigators to develop stem cell-based brain transplantation therapies have been carried out. We review here notable previously published experimental and preclinical studies involving stem cell-based cell for neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the future prospects for stem cell therapy of neurological disorders in the clinical setting. Steady and solid progress in stem cell research in both basic and preclinical settings should support the hope for development of stem cell-based cell therapies for neurological diseases.

Stem cell transplantation for enhancement of learning and memory in adult neurocognitive disorders

The role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in learning and memory is still incompletely understood. Ablation of neurogenesis with different methods produced equivocal results with respect to working memory in Morris water maze and radial arm maze experiments. Therefore, it is remarkable that in the past few years several investigators have found a positive impact on working memory after adding stem or progenitor cells to the hippocampus in various disease models. The literature on stem cell transplantation for adult neurocognitive disorders is reviewed in this article and attempted to be reconciled with current research on adult hippocampal neurogenesis.