New Neurons from Old Cells

Parkinson’s disease is the loss of  dopamine neurons which then leads to the slowness of movement or tremors throughout a persons body. This disease is incurable, however, a new study done by a group of scientist at Lund University and others in Paris have brought society one step closer into providing a cure for this disease. This breakthrough was a rats model, which allowed scientist to extract fetal dopamine neurons from human embryos brain cells and transplant them into rats to see the adjustment in characteristics. The dopamine neurons that were transferred, represented the same characteristics and functions of the neurons loss when the disease takes over.  In the coming months, trials will be done on a small number of patients yet there are many concerns that worry society, yet the scientist believe that once the dopamine neurons become available at clinic’s and accessible for larger groups there will be no more worry. I decided to read this article because famous actors and athletes who I enjoyed following now have Parkinson’s disease and you can see how their life’s and careers have been affected.  I believe that if the next step in this study works (transferred into humans) it will be very beneficial to society.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141106143643.htm

Submitted by Perley Provost