Stem Cell Success

[jimcaster]

We aren't there yet with PD, but stem cell success is happening all around us.

neurosciencenews.com/stem-c...

[Xenos]

Thank you for the good news, Jim.

[jimcaster in reply to Xenos]

I sincerely believe and hope that stem cell therapy will be an important part of a cure for many neurological diseases, including Parkinson's. It won't stop the underlying cause, but it will replace dead or dying neurons.

[MerckK]

Thanks for the article but the number is too small sample size to be considered for making decision. Moreover, 17% is the failure rate. Small samples, though sometimes unavoidable, can result in wide confidence intervals and risk of errors in statistical hypothesis testing.

[jimcaster in reply to MerckK]

I agree, but this is just one of many studies which at least inspire hope for the future. Even the 17% "failure rate" may be indicative of something other than failure, such as misdiagnosis, etc. I remain very encouraged by stem cell research, but I completely agree that we have a long way to go.

[grandmama16]

Wonderful progress with patient's own stem cells from marrow or blood. Note....has to wipe out immune system with chemo.,..pretty risky... then re introduce stem cells. After 5 yrs. there are no more markers in body for the disease it was targeting....a type of M.S. Can it be used for all M.S.? It will probably be a long time before it's used for PD.

[jimcaster in reply to grandmama16]

There are at least 3 legitimate Parkinson's stem cell trials underway in humans with more on the way.

[danfitz]

Yes, this is good news. I recall reading somewhere that we are about 15 years behind on stem cell research because of the political restrictions placed on it.

[MarionP]

So many immune system treatments of late, from cancer to this; strongly implying the auto-immune connections in those diseases. Any time you see the ending letters ib or ab in a chemical drug name means that you are looking at an engineered anti-body, or targeted treatment molecule working through the immune system, meaning the approach treats (successfully) the disease as a form of auto-immune disease. Very impressive considering it is Mayo, because without their involvement one would have to be careful about stem cell claims and run it through the (should be famous by now) Retractions Database. But not with Mayo. Very good news.

The end phrase "chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy" is extremely interesting here. Good news.