Tag Archives: neuron

Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Moves Closer

No Gravatar

We have been seeking the ‘Holy Grail’ to treat Parkinson’s Disease with stem cells for some time.  Given the restrictions on embryonic stem cells, research has been focused on integumentary and pluripotent stem cells.   A big step forward has been made by a group of researchers working together, all from different institution.  Drs. Lorenz Studer,  Sonja Kriks & Jae-Won Shim of the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY, along with other researchers there, plus researchers at the Cornell Medical School, Northwestern Medical, and Rush Memorial (the last two in Chicago, IL) published the results of their study in Nature on 10 November 2011.

Continue reading Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Moves Closer

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Share

fMRI is still just a surrogate measurement

No Gravatar

If you’ve been reading this blog (What?  You haven’t?  Shame on you!), then you know I often refer to fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) experiments.  The fMRI had its genesis at Mass General in 1991- when giant magnetics afforded us the ability to visualize activity in the brain.  (This final result relied on the finding by Seiji Ogawa at Bell Labs that determined blood-oxygen-level dependence, the MRI contrast of blood deoxyhemoglobin [oxygen depleted red blood cells].)

Continue reading fMRI is still just a surrogate measurement

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Share

Spinal Cord Regrowth May Be Possible- but not tomorrow.

No Gravatar

The ability to grow brain and spinal cord nerve cells is present at birth- and starts to disappear just like that as we age.  So, when we incur an injury to the spine or the brain- the axons (as discussed earlier) can’t regenerate.  It is thought that since these areas are replete with nerves and nerve fibers, they send signals to stop new connections from forming. By stopping new pathways from forming, our brain can’t be confused with by incorrect signals that could result from the new pathways.

Continue reading Spinal Cord Regrowth May Be Possible- but not tomorrow.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter
Share