Stem Cell research and Alzheimers disease
Stem cell research and Alzheimer's disease 10/25/05
What are stem cells anyways?
They are human cells that divide themselves in the body as long
as the person is alive. When these cells called stem cells
divide they can become another stem cell or become a new type of
cell like a brain or nerve cell. They have tremendous potential
to repair the body or replenish other cells,, in this case with
Alzheimer's disease, brain or nerve cells.
Embryonic stem cells are the cells of interest to the Alzheimer
community; as they have the ability to convert to all types of
cells needed for the nerves or brain cells. Embryonic stem cells
can be cultured in a lab test tube for months or years. The city
of New Orleans recently lost a good amount of these during the
Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. ( National Institution of
Health)
Ronald Reagan's death on June 5,2004 catapulted the interest in
the human embryonic stem cell research. Many senators urged
President Bush to lighten the restrictions that require the
destruction of human embryos at that time. (Information obtained
from Washington Post Article June 10, 2004 written by Rick
Weiss).
Embryonic Stem Cells Created without Harm
Embryonic stem cells have been recently created without harm to
the living embryo according to the Science News article of
October 22, 2005. This method opens the door to satisfy the
ethical concerns of people who are against the destroying of
human embryos to treat a disease or for research.
Fezl important?
Neurons, the nerve cells that carry information between the body
and the brain have a subtype called Fezl which is short for
forebrain embryonic zinc fingerlike. Fezl has been identified as
important in the development of neurons that are crucial to
proper brain activity according to author Bradley Molyneaux says
Tom Fagan of the Alzheimers Research Forum.
For more information visit www.healthymemory.net on the web.