Diseases are the main problem stem cell researchers are trying to solve. Stem cells have been linked as a possible cure to help people afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. This disease causes a disorder where the person in question doesn’t have enough dopamine, a chemical that allows communication between the brain and body movements. The disease eliminates dopamine-producing nerve cells within the brain which accounts for problems with sleeping, motivation, thinking and much more. Currently, treatments for the disease include a drug named Levodopa, discovered in the 1960’s, it is ingested as a tablet or capsule and converts into dopamine once inside the body. In more severe cases where this is not viable deep brain surgery is done to implant
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These cells are currently only used for the study of Parkinson’s disease. However, because Parkinson’s only affects a single well-known type of cell there is a possibility to treat the disease by replacing the lost nerves cells with healthy new ones. Studies done in the 1980-90’s make scientists think cell replacement therapy would work, because, of results in transplantation studies done at the time. Researchers in Sweden, America, and Canada have transplanted developing nigral dopamine-producing neurons from human fetuses into animals and human patients with Parkinson’s disease. The results showed major improvements in some cases but only modest in others. After these initial studies, larger studies were conducted which reported some side effects in patients who reported involuntary movements induced by the cell therapy similarly to patients with long term Levodopa treatment. Stem cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease are in early development. Important advances from these studies show how to improve the effectiveness of transplants and avoid any side effects. Lorenz Studer, Founder, and Director of the center for stem cell biology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City has recently succeeded in making efficient dopamine-producing neurons from embryonic stem cells that have been transplanted into rats and mice with a dopamine lesion, simulating the effects of Parkinson’s. Later tests were carried out on monkeys to show that the cells would survive and function in larger animals as well as not harm the patient in the
These cells are currently only used for the study of Parkinson’s disease. However, because Parkinson’s only affects a single well-known type of cell there is a possibility to treat the disease by replacing the lost nerves cells with healthy new ones. Studies done in the 1980-90’s make scientists think cell replacement therapy would work, because, of results in transplantation studies done at the time. Researchers in Sweden, America, and Canada have transplanted developing nigral dopamine-producing neurons from human fetuses into animals and human patients with Parkinson’s disease. The results showed major improvements in some cases but only modest in others. After these initial studies, larger studies were conducted which reported some side effects in patients who reported involuntary movements induced by the cell therapy similarly to patients with long term Levodopa treatment. Stem cell treatments for Parkinson’s disease are in early development. Important advances from these studies show how to improve the effectiveness of transplants and avoid any side effects. Lorenz Studer, Founder, and Director of the center for stem cell biology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City has recently succeeded in making efficient dopamine-producing neurons from embryonic stem cells that have been transplanted into rats and mice with a dopamine lesion, simulating the effects of Parkinson’s. Later tests were carried out on monkeys to show that the cells would survive and function in larger animals as well as not harm the patient in the