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Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A Scoping Review for 2017-2022
Yunxiao Duan1, Linshuoshuo Lyu2, Siyan Zhan3,4
1Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
Abstract:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been a major causal factor for mortality among elders around the world. The treatments for AD, however, are still in the stage of development. Stem cell therapy, compared to drug therapies and many other therapeutic options, has many advantages and is very promising in the future. There are four major types of stem cells used in AD therapy: neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. All of them have applications in the treatments, either at the (1) cellular level, in an (2) animal model, or at the (3) clinical level. In general, many more types of stem cells were studied on the cellular level and animal model, than the clinical level. We suggest for future studies to increase research on various types of stem cells and include cross-disciplinary research with other diseases. In the future, there could also be improvements in the timeliness of research and individualization for stem cell therapies for AD.
Insights
Stem cell therapy shows promise for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment, with four main types explored. Further research is needed to advance clinical applications for this neurodegenerative disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
- Gerontology and Aging Research
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of mortality in the elderly, with limited effective treatments.
- Current therapeutic options for AD are insufficient, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- Stem cell therapy presents a promising alternative to conventional drug therapies for AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications of stem cell therapy in Alzheimer's disease research.
- To explore the potential of different stem cell types for AD treatment.
- To identify future research directions for optimizing stem cell-based therapies for AD.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies utilizing four major stem cell types: neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
- Analysis of stem cell applications at the cellular, animal model, and clinical levels for AD.
- Synthesis of existing research to identify trends and gaps in stem cell therapy for AD.
Main Results:
- All four major stem cell types have demonstrated potential applications in AD treatment.
- Extensive research exists at the cellular and animal model levels, with fewer studies at the clinical level.
- Stem cell therapy offers advantages over traditional drug therapies for managing AD.
Conclusions:
- Stem cell therapy holds significant promise for the future treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
- Increased research on diverse stem cell types and cross-disciplinary approaches is recommended.
- Future advancements should focus on improving the timeliness and individualization of stem cell therapies for AD.
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