Embryonic or Neural Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Disease of the Central Nervous System (with Relevance to PD, HD, AD, MS, SCI, and Stroke)

There has been a recent dramatic increase in understanding how to replace neurons lost through aging, trauma or disease and how to repair brain damage with significant functional recovery in a variety of models of human neurodegenerative disease. Donor factors identified in various models indicate that underlying successful cell transplantation in the nervous system critically include cell harvesting at an appropriate stage notably in embryonic or neonatal development. Also necessary are an appropriate nutritive environment for cell growth and appropriate techniques of cell implantation. Animal and other models have demonstrated the potential feasibility of using cells for repair of central nervous system disorders but for the present time functional clinical use of such cells remains an innovation in development at least in part due to the complex and precisely organized anatomical structures involved. There are also donor supply and ethics issues and conflicting clinical trial work, however, clinicians are working to achieve consensus through the application of evidence-based medicine