| When Ronald Reagan was dying of Alzheimer's | | | | would be Parkinson's disease. |
| disease, Nancy Reagan became interested in stem | | | | However Parkinson's disease affects only a small and |
| cell research and its potential for treating Alzheimer's | | | | specialized population of brain cells. Other uses for |
| disease. | | | | stem cell therapy might be Type-1 Diabetes, which is |
| As a result, there has been a continuing growing | | | | caused by the loss of discrete insulin-producing cells in |
| voice of supporters on this issue. | | | | the pancreas. |
| Ronald Reagan's death from Alzheimer's disease | | | | The most promising use for stem cell therapy could |
| increased the support for human embryonic stem cell | | | | be for spinal cord injuries in which a few crucial nerve |
| research. This research requires the destruction of | | | | cells die, such as the injury that paralyzed actor |
| human embryos. | | | | Christopher Reeve. But in the case of Alzheimer's, |
| Many supporters of stem cell research believe that | | | | the requirement for the recreation of brain cells is |
| the transplants of show great potential for curing | | | | too complex. |
| certain diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes. | | | | However, promising this research might sound for |
| Medical researchers believe that someday, embryo | | | | Alzheimer's, the medical community views the results |
| cell studies may lead to insights into Alzheimer's. | | | | of an Alzheimer's cure from stem cell therapy as a |
| Most proponents of stem cell research felt that if | | | | "fairy tale" |
| nothing else, stem cells bearing the genetic hallmarks | | | | "To start with, people need a fairy tale," said Ronald |
| of Alzheimer's might help scientists assess the | | | | D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at the National |
| potential usefulness of new drugs. But few scientist | | | | Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. "Maybe |
| feel there is a direct benefit for Alzheimer's from | | | | that's unfair, but they need a story line that's |
| stem cell therapy. | | | | relatively simple to understand." Other researchers |
| The overall consensus of scientist and researchers is | | | | consider it disingenuous to talk about Alzheimer's in |
| that stem cell transplant therapy does not sound like | | | | connection with stem cell research. |
| a viable treatment for Alzheimer's. There is an | | | | Stem cell experts admit that there are diseases that |
| obvious lack of genuine enthusiasm surrounding stem | | | | may one day be cured by embryonic stem cell |
| cell therapy as having any practical potential to treat | | | | treatments, but these expert state that Alzheimer's |
| Alzheimer's. | | | | is among the least likely disease to benefit from this |
| The basis of the stem cell research focuses on | | | | therapy. |
| human embryonic stem cells that can clone | | | | I think the chance of doing repairs to Alzheimer's |
| themselves into any kind of tissue. This amazing | | | | brains by putting in stem cells is small," said stem cell |
| ability of these cells have led scientists to believe that | | | | researcher Michael Shelanski, co-director of the Taub |
| these stem cells could be a "universal patch" to | | | | Institute for Research on Alzheimer's disease and the |
| replace any injured or non-functioning organ. | | | | Aging Brain at the Columbia University Medical Center |
| "Some studies have suggested, for example, that | | | | in New York, echoing many other experts. "I |
| stem cells injected into an injured heart can spur the | | | | personally think we're going to get other therapies |
| development of healthy new heart muscle. Among | | | | for Alzheimer's a lot sooner. |
| the more promising targets of such "cellular therapies" | | | | |