Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
08:32
CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells for Gene Therapy Applications
Published on: August 9, 2022
4.4K
Stem cell therapy for neurological disorders: A focus on aging.
Hung Nguyen1, Sydney Zarriello1, Alexandreya Coats1
1Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
Neurobiology of Disease
|September 17, 2018
Summary
Aging significantly impacts brain health and stem cell therapy efficacy for neurological disorders. This review explores how aging affects diseases like Parkinson's and stroke, hindering treatment success.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Regenerative Medicine
- Gerontology
Background:
- Neurological disorders represent a major health challenge, exacerbated by aging.
- Aging negatively affects brain health and the body's endogenous stem cells.
- Stem cell therapy offers potential for neurological diseases but faces challenges due to aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interplay between aging, stem cell therapy, and neurological disease progression.
- To examine the impact of aging on stem cell efficacy in treating neurodegenerative conditions.
- To identify research gaps and future directions for improving stem cell treatments in aging populations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical literature.
- Analysis of studies focusing on aging's effects on stem cells and neurological diseases.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on stem cell therapy in the context of aging.
Main Results:
- Aging detrimentally influences the progression of major neurological diseases.
- The efficacy of stem cell therapies is significantly compromised by the aging process.
- Specific neurological conditions reviewed include Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, TBI, ALS, MS, and MSA.
Conclusions:
- Aging is a critical factor limiting the success of current stem cell therapies for neurological disorders.
- Further research is needed to overcome age-related barriers in stem cell treatments.
- Developing age-resilient stem cell strategies is crucial for advancing neurological disease management.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
4.7K
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell...
4.7K
01:33Adult Stem Cells
33.9K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce more stem cells or progenitor cells that differentiate into mature, specialized cell types. All the cells in the body are generated from stem cells in the early embryo, but small populations of stem cells are also present in many adult tissues including the bone marrow, brain, skin, and gut. These adult stem cells typically produce the various cell types found in that tissue—to replace cells that are damaged or to continuously...
33.9K
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
32.5K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
32.5K
02:18Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
19.5K
Intrinsically disordered proteins are a group of proteins that do not fold into specific three-dimensional structures. Their structural flexibility allows them to complement ordered proteins to perform functions that are inaccessible to rigid structures. They are more common in eukaryotes than prokaryotes and may either be exclusively intrinsically disordered or hybrid proteins, consisting of a mix of ordered and disordered regions. The absence of a rigid structure in these proteins can be...
19.5K
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
28.1K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
28.1K
01:26Aging
709
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
709