Umbilical and menstrual stem cells 'provide hope for brain disorders'RSS Feed

Stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood cells and menstrual blood cells could offer hope for those suffering from the brain injury seen in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, scientists have said.

Research, published in Cell Transplantation, showed that these stem cells are able to differentiate into different kinds of cells and are immunologically immature. They could therefore be used to promote cell survival rather than act as replacements upon transplantation.

Dr Eduardo Cruz, chief executive officer of Cell PRAXIS BioRio, said that while human umbilical cord blood cells (hUCBs) can only be collected at birth, menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) could be collected each month from women over a period of 40 years.

This comes after research from the Karolinska Institutet found that although age is a main risk factor for dementia, active involvement in mental, physical and social activities can delay the onset of the condition.

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Posted by Matthew Heap
 

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