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.

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141121082913.htm

Related Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277805.php  

Brain Defects May Relate to Amount of Jumping Genes

In the article 'Jumping
Genes' May Contribute to Aging-Related Brain Defects, scientists found that
the number of transposons in the brains of fruit flies increases as they get
older. Transposons are also called jumping genes because they transpose
themselves into another part of the genome. This can cause fatal defects.
Another article on transposons called Rare
Form of Active 'Jumping Genes' Found in Mammals states that:

[caption id="attachment_7872" align="alignright" width="346" caption="Transposons"][/caption]

Many organisms have developed systems to decrease the
frequency at which jumping genes move, Craig says. Such systems are a component
of immunity, protecting mammals from retroviruses, as well as from the risk
that jumping genes will wreak havoc by interrupting an important gene.

It is believed that transposons have a role in brain development,
but can cause harm later on. Transposons accumulate as flies grow older.  In fruit flies, Ago2 protects against transposon
activity. When scientists blocked the Ago2 in young flies, they found that the
young flies had the same amount of transposons as much older flies. The young
flies were then found to have defects in long-term memory that are usually
found in much older flies. The young flies also had shorter life spans as
a result of the increase in active transposons. Scientists believe that transposons
may be accountable for age-related neurodegeneration. This is an important
discovery because it can lead to an understanding of aging, brain development,
and brain defects.