Posted on 02/18/2006 3:32:17 PM PST by Coleus
MONTREAL, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Canadian researchers said Friday they have uncovered a natural defense mechanism to Alzheimer's disease.
Not surprisingly, it involves stem cells -- those derived from bone marrow.
In Alzheimer's patients, plaque forms in the brain, but the brain's resident immune cells, called microglia, can't fight off the substance. The plaque can then kill off the brain's neurons, or nerve cells.
However, microglia harvested from bone marrow stem cells do appear capable of defeating the plague, said researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval and the research centre at Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Canada.
The researchers noted that, in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's, the bone marrow-derived microglia were specifically drawn to the amyloid proteins that form plague in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
"The discovery ... is an important step towards a new therapeutic approach to Alzheimer's disease," states Rémi Quirion, scientific director of Canada's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA). "It is the perfect example of the potential social benefits of investing in health research," he said.
The Canadian scientists said that 280,000 Canadians aged 65 and over have Alzheimer's.
This is outrageous to suggest it isn't necessary to tear apart human fetuses to get stem cells.
No, seriously, this is big news. My grandmother had Alzheimers (and my mother was her caretaker)...overcoming Alzheimers is a big deal for millions of people.
Great post...thx.
My grandmother also had Alzheimers.
That's good news!!
Ping!
My prayers are with you (even belately). Alzheimers really has an effect on a family.
My Mother-in-Law had it. She lived with us for two years, and it was not pretty. It is a cruel disease because the person that was once bright, loving and personable becomes a walking mental vegetable. What makes it really bad is that it goes on for decades, gradually.
Laura Ingraham had a guy on Thursday or Friday that stated there are 65 different programs where adult stem cells were being used currently to help people with ailments. There are zero with embryonic stem cells.
This individual also stated that there is a problem with embryonic stem cells in that they seem to case tumors. He stated that he wasn't sure the tumor problem could be overcome, but acknowledged that it might.
He then commented that if there were truly a raging promise of success with embryonic stem cells, you wouldn't be able to stop corporations from plunging into the field. Presently none are doing so. So much for all the hype and promise.
Thanks.
She has other serious medical problems and the Alzheimer's is just starting to advance but it's definitely the worst of her problems. Strictly physical ailments are easier to deal with.
I know, my grandmother had it for 30 years.
It is a cruel disease, harder on the family than on the patient. My grandpa has it and it makes me sad when I think how he used to be versus his present circumstances.
Sheesh, you'd think that the upi "journalist" would know the difference.
AV
Oh well...
AV
What's ourtageous about this?
What's ourtageous about this? ==============================================
Paleo Conservative was being sarcastic
Bone marrow stem cells do not come from fetuses. They come from bone marrow.
My heart (and prayers) go out to you. We helped care for my father-in-law as he battled the disease. I will tell you that a sense of humor helped us all. Among the things this wonderful man lost was his memory of picky eating. The guy ate EVERYTHING in the late years. It was one of the things we spoke of after he passed and it still gives us chuckles.
The only blessing was that we had said good-bye to the real man long before we said good-bye to his earthly body.
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