Dr. Blurton-Jones admitted that further studies were needed before his team could move on to humans. He revealed that the next step in his research would be to test stem cells in mice with an Alzheimer's-like disease. Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "This study is a major advance which demonstrates the potential of stem cell therapies. However, the race is on to develop treatments as effective in practice as in the laboratory.”
"This study relies on a very specific approach using cells grown with animal growth factors. These cells are not suitable for human treatment and major obstacles still exist in applying this to people. But we anticipate a solution over the next few years," Ballard added.
Dr Paul Sanberg, director of the Centre of Excellence for Ageing and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, said: "There is clearly a therapeutic potential to this. But it has to work with older brains."
Source-ANI
LIN/M