New findings show that

Neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells implanted in monkeys displaying symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear to have matured into healthy, dopamine-producing neurons without causing any adverse effects

Life-threatening heart problems caused by spinal cord injury were partially remedied in rats treated with stem cells derived from the fetal brainstem. The findings suggest new avenues of research for repairing cardiovascular damage in human patients with spinal cord injuries

Experiments in mice indicate it may be possible to activate dormant stem cells in the adult prompting the production of new neurons that might help repair damage caused by injury

In addition, scientists believe they have isolated a protein that can signal the adult brain to produce more neurons, raising the possibility that boosting production of the protein could help patients recover neurons lost to degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS, or to trauma, such as spinal cord injury

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