Could a Brain with Alzheimer's Have New Memories ?

"Our passionate motivation for this research is the idea that an Alzheimer's patient, who for a long time was not able to remember things, could start to have new memories".+Alzheimer's Reading Room Researchers at Penn State University have developed an innovative technology to regenerate functional neurons after brain injury, and also in model systems used for research on Alzheimer's disease. The scientists have used supporting cells of the central nervous system, glial cells, to regenerate healthy, functional neurons, which are critical for transmitting signals in the brain.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail: Brain repair after injury and Alzheimer's diseaseTechnology developed to regenerate functional neurons (In vivo reprogramming of reactive glial cells into functional neurons)Gong Chen, a professor of biology, the Verne M. Willaman Chair in Life Sciences at Penn State, and the leader of the research team, calls the method a breakthrough in the long journey toward brain repair."This technology may be developed into a new therapeutic treatment for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders," Chen said. The research will be posted online by the journal Cell Stem Cell.When the brain is harmed by injury or disease, neurons often die or degenerate, but glial cells become more branched and numerous.These "reactive glial cells" initially build a defense system to prevent bacter...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Dementia Authors: Source Type: blogs