Human stem cells transformed into key neurons lost in Alzheimer's
Monday, March 7, 2011 - 00:30
in Biology & Nature
Researchers for the first time have transformed a human embryonic stem cell into a critical neuron that dies early in Alzheimer's disease and is a major cause of memory loss. This ability to reprogram stem cells and grow a limitless supply of the neurons will enable a rapid wave of drug testing, allow researchers to study why the neurons die and could potentially lead to transplanting the new neurons into people with Alzheimer's.