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Brain stemcells can repair diseases Wednesday 29 January 2003, 22:06PM An adult human brain contains stem cells capable of repairing a range of degenerative diseases, researchers say. Professor Richard Paull, from the University of Auckland School of Medicine in New Zealand, said research revealed evidence the human brain attempts to repair itself from disease. The research was being extended to study the potential of adult stem cells to help the brain strengthen defences against diseases including Huntingtons, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and epilepsy. "We believe it is possible to help the brain in this process by using a patient's own stem cells for tissue repair," Prof Paull told an Australian Neuroscience Society Conference in Adelaide. "This would open the door to new opportunities to treat people with neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. "By tapping into and genetically engineering the adult stem cells from the diseased adult brain, we would overcome major ethical, immunological and technical problems associated with the more controversial area of embryonic stem cell technology." The research was supported by a successful human brain donor program in New Zealand that allowed researchers to probe the degenerative processes associated with various diseases, he said. "What we have found in the diseased brains is that adult stem cells proliferate to form replacement neurons as well as other repair cells," he said. "By accessing these stem cells and introducing growth factors to generate new neurons, it may be possible to help the brain repair itself and for sufferers of neurodegenerative diseases to regain health and normal functions. "There is still a lot of work to be done to understand the genetic and chemical mysteries of the brain before this type of approach can be used to help patients, but there is reason for excitement." ©2003 HYPERLINK "http://www.theage.com.au/notices/aap.html"AAP This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/29/1043804409904.html Thomas Berdine President Young Onset Parkinson's Association www.yopa.org Founder www.youngparkinsons.com The Young Onset Parkinson's Association is a legal corporation, incorporated as a not-for-profit in New Mexico and headquartered in Albuquerque. We are in the middle of applying for our 501C(3) federal tax exemption status and expect to have it within 2 - 6 months. If this exemption is not approved, at first, your donation may not be tax exempt until the time that we are approved federally. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.445 / Virus Database: 250 - Release Date: 1/21/2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn