Neuron breakthrough offers hope on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

[n2doc]

Hannah Devlin

Neurons have been created directly from skin cells for the first time, in a remarkable study that suggests that our biological makeup is far more versatile than previously thought.

If confirmed, the discovery that one tissue type can be genetically reprogrammed to become another, could revolutionise treatments for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, opening up the possibility of turning a patient’s own skin cells into the neurons that they need.

The study by scientists from Stanford University, California, also suggests that skin cells could be reprogrammed to provide a limitless supply of blood or bone marrow for personalised transfusions.

Until now, the consensus was that only master cells from embryos, or adult cells that have been ‘rewound’ into an embryo-like state — a process that takes several weeks — have the ability to form all the different types of tissue in the body.

more:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/medicine/article7005401.ece

[David Zephyr]

1. K&R.

Thanks, n2doc, for posting this story and link.

[mzteris]

2. my dad had both -

so this is good news.

Everytime I (or my brother or sister) "forget something" - I get a little more nervous. . .

I vowed I would NEVER put my family through that debilitating disease. It's nice to know I might have another option should it come to that.