Future Alzheimer Treatment: Neural Stem Cells

Andrea Celmins
March 29, 2000

SUMMARY: Amazing advancements in stem cell technology are taking place. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that becomes a specialized cell (i.e. a skin cell). All cells start out as stem cells and go on to become specialized cells, this new method is revolutionary since it is able to direct stem cells to become specific types of cells in order to replace diseased cells. New methods are able to differentiate central nervous system (CNS) stem cells into specific types of neurons. Researchers have figured out how to turn stem cells into acetylcholine-producing neurons (neurotransmitters pertinent to Alzheimer’s). With stem cell therapy it will be possible to replace imperfect acetylcholine-producing neurons with new ones. The transplantation of CNS stem cells to replace damaged or diseased nerve tissue and restore neural function is widely regarded as a promising new approach to Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

ABSTRACT: NeuralStem Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd reports promising advancements in their proprietary neural stem cell technology. A stem cell is an unspecialized cell that becomes a specialized cell (i.e. a skin cell). Research focusing on a variety of actions involving stem cells including the isolation, propagation, and controlled differentiation in culture of multi-potential stem cells from all regions of the human brain and spinal cord has lead to exciting advancements in methods for differentiating central nervous system (CNS) stem cells into specific types of neurons. Neurons such as dopamine-producing neurons (occurs as a neurotransmitter in the brain), acetylcholine-producing neurons (neurotransmitters pertinent to Alzheimer’s), GABAergic neurons (an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the CNS), and regionally specific neurons such as spinal cord neurons from the spinal cord have been produced.

"We have developed the ability to produce, with precision and predictability, both the type and number of nerve cells desired -- for example, dopamine-producing neurons for treating patients suffering from Parkinson's disease," said I. Richard Garr, President and CEO of NeuralStem. "These claims mark another milestone toward achieving one of our main goals…development of dedicated cell banks for therapeutic application to specific diseases…we work to usher in a new era of cell-based therapies for treating and curing neurodegenerative (degeneration of nervous tissue) disorders."

Disorders of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injuries, affect more people than any other category of disease, and there are currently few effective treatments available. The enormous health care costs associated with these conditions are projected to increase dramatically with the aging of the population (the baby boomer generation in particular). The transplantation of CNS stem cells to replace damaged or diseased nerve tissue and restore neural function is widely regarded as a most promising new approach to treatment. NeuralStem is developing a precisely controlled system for producing expandable and renewable supplies of standardized, optimized human brain and spinal cord neurons in commercial quantities to provide healthy replacement cells for patients suffering from these conditions.