Monday, November 24, 2014

Stem Cells Plus Antioxidants Repair Brain Damage

Researchers from Cardenal Herrera University found a new way of repairing brain damage in mice.  This type of treatment combines drug therapy with cellular treatment with positive results.  They used stem cells from bone marrow and combined it with lipoic acid (a potent antioxidant), which helped with neuroregeneration.  Lipoic acid by itself was used to help treat degenerative diseases (ex. multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy).  It also increases the creation of blood vessels, thus increasing the cerebral immune response and the restoration of damaged tissues.  Stem cells from bone marrow helps improve functions of the brain. 


            The combined therapy of both drugs and cellular treatment, allow cells to reproduce.  They continue to reproduce even after the bone marrow has disappeared (around 16 days), meaning brain tissue was being regenerated due to the stem cell transplant.  It helps target damaged area to give it a foothold to build off of.  Brain damage in children is one of the leading causes of death/disability in third world countries, this kind of treatment could help lower the number of cases.



            The article shows how far we have come with stem cell research.  Combining with multiple techniques will constantly advance our medical techniques.  My uncle has MS (multiple sclerosis) and I would definitely like to see this become a common practice.  Although I believe it will still take some time to test the treatment on humans, I can see this being used by doctors and medical professionals in the near future.

1 comment:

  1. It's so great how far stem cell research has come along and it will only grow more and more in the upcoming years. Researchers could take this technique and use it for other forms of stem cell therapy as well which could be another great achievement for the medical field.

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