Obama Wrongly Claims Embryonic Stem Cell Research Will Cure Alzheimer's

Life News ^ | 1/19/09 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Over the weekend, incoming president Barack Obama talked about how he'll make Congress overturn President Bush's stem cell research policy. In his comments, Obama wrongly indicated embryonic stem cell research can cure Alzheimer's even though scientists say that's not the case.

In his comments to CNN, he said that "on embryonic stem cell research ... there is a moral and ethical mechanism to ensure that people with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's can actually find potentially some hope out there."

However, leading scientists say that embryonic stem cell research will likely never yield a cure for Alzheimer's.

"Alzheimer's is a more global disease, with an effect on numerous kinds of cells," Steve Stice, a stem cell researcher at the University of Georgia, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper previously. "That makes it much more difficult for a cell therapy to be effective."

In a patient afflicted with Alzheimer's, clumps of protein called amyloid build up within the brain and begin attacking various types of cells and the connections between cells.

Other researchers agree that potential cures, if they come about, won't happen soon.

"I think the chance of doing repairs to Alzheimer's brains by putting in stem cells is small," stem cell researcher Michael Shelanski, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York, told the Washington Post in June 2004. "I personally think we're going to get other therapies for Alzheimer's a lot sooner."

Huntington Potter, a brain researcher at the University of South Florida in Tampa, also told the paper: "The complex architecture of the brain, the fact that it's a diffuse disease with neuronal loss in numerous places and with synaptic loss, all this is a problem."

Marilyn Albert previously told the Associated Press, "I just think everybody feels there are higher priorities for seeking effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease and for identifying preventive strategies."

Albert, a Johns Hopkins University researcher who chairs the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Association, says there are more promising efforts to treat the disease than waiting on the decades it could take to see results from embryonic stem cells.

Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, associate director of the National Institute on Aging's neuroscience and neuropsychology of aging program, concurs.

"There's an awful lot going on right now that perhaps holds a little bit more immediate promise for trying to slow the disease, or even cut off its development," Morrison-Bogorad explained.

Even Ron Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, admitted in an interview on MSNBC's "Hardball" in July 2004 that embryonic stem cell research is unlikely to provide cures for the debilitating disease.

"Alzheimer's is a disease, ironically, that probably won't be amenable to treatment through stem cell therapies," Reagan admitted.

If any stem cell therapy will work, it appears the use of adult stem cells, which Bush supported and funded, may be the leading kind.

In March 2008, scientists at the Cryo-Cell International found that targeted immune suppression using stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood may reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

For the study, researchers had administered a series of low-dose infusions of umbilical cord blood cells into mice with abnormalities mimicking Alzheimer's disease.

According to the organization’s announcement, researchers found that the two main markers of Alzheimer's progression in the brain were reduced as a result of the infusions – myloid-beta proteins by 62 percent and cerebral amyloid angiopathy by 86 percent.

[wagglebee]

There is absolutely NO PROHIBITION regarding privately funded embryonic stem cell research. If corporations thought that they could make money on this they would be pouring billions into it. The reality is that embryonic stem cells are nothing more than a safeguard for abortion.

[wagglebee]

Pro-Life Ping

[wagglebee]

Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]

[piytar]

Just more lies from the Obamessiah to the deluded public...

[wk4bush2004]

“he’ll make Congress overturn President Bush’s stem cell research policy.”

And so, the culture of death in our nation expands.....

These liberals seem to just want to find any excuse to kill more babies....sickening!

[WakeUpAndVote]

But, zer0 said it. It MUST be true!

[TexasCajun]

On GMA, George Stephonapolis carefully omitted “Embryonic” in his reporting on Obamah approving Stem Cell research.

[Irish Eyes]

Obama is of the ... If it sounds good, say it school. We all know that , when are others going to wake up. The dumbing down of America has finally succeeded.

[TAdams8591]

Absolutely agree with your comment. Obama understands that too.

[Between the Lines]

Over the weekend, incoming president Barack Obama talked about how he'll make Congress overturn President Bush's stem cell research policy.

Clinton banned federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research. Bush permitted federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research with limits.

Does this mean that Obama going back to Clinton's policy?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

It’s the feeeeeeeeeeeeeling that counts.

[Tallguy]

Well this is the crowd that believes in man-made global warming. Their scientific IQ leaves a lot to be desired.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Well, he's a liberal idiot who supports ALL of the culture of death policies: abortion, embryonic stem cells, euthanasia. It's all coming. Global abortion funding, cloned embryonic stem cells, Terri Schiavo mercy killings, government-funded euthanasia, more poison vaccination requirements, biochipping of children, computerized mental health profiling of all citizens from cradle to grave. The Brave New World Disorder with a non-Christian Manchurian Candidate in the White House. Obama worship. Get ready. He can yell and scream as the People's Messiah now all he wants. And they are ending Free Speech to silence all criticism.

[little jeremiah]

More evil lies from the evil soon to be President.

[wagglebee]

Pinged from Terri Dailies