Stem Cells and Other Emerging Agents as Innovative "Drugs" in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Benefits and Limitations

Abstract

The brain has a limited process of repair/regeneration linked to the restricted and localized activity of neuronal stem cells. Consequently, it shows a reduced capacity to counteract the age-related loss of neural and glial cells and to repair the consequent injuries/lesions of nervous system. This progressively determines nervous dysfunction and onset/progression of neurodegenerative diseases, which represent a serious social (and economic) problem of our populations. Thus, the research of efficient treatments is encouraged. Stem cell therapy might represent a solution. Today, it, indeed, represents the object of intensive research with the hope of using it, in a near future, as effective therapy for these diseases and preventive treatment in susceptible individuals. Here, we report and discuss the data of the recent studies on this field, underling the obstacles and benefits. We also illustrate alternative measures of intervention, which represent another parallel aim for the care of neurodegenerative pathology-affected individuals. Thus, the road for delaying or retarding these diseases appears hard and long, but the advances might be different.

Keywords: brain; innovative intervention measures; neurodegenerative pathologies; neuronal stem cells; self-repair/regenerative process; stem cell therapy.