Scientists are continuing to research the use of cord blood stem cells for Alzheimer’s treatment. The most recent research has indicated that human umbilical cord blood stem cells are capable of migrating to the brains of mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The stem cells then remain active for an extended period of time.

Alzheimer’s Disease is fairly common in many countries with as many as one-in-three seniors having Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia when they die. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Researchers expect the prevalence of Alzheimer’s to reach 100 million people globally, by 2050.  Currently there is no effective treatment for the disease.

The research team, based in Tampa, Florida, injected stem cells from cord blood into mice affected with Alzheimer’s disease to better understand how the stem cells moved throughout the body. This study is an important first step in understanding the feasibility and safety of using cord blood stem cells for alzheimers treatment.

They found that the stem cells migrated to brain tissue where they were retained for up to 30 days. The stem cells did not promote the growth of tumours — a complication with some stem cell transplants. The study will be soon published in the journal Cell Transplantation.

Before cord blood stem cells can be used in trials, researchers must ensure they are very safe and have a low risk of creating tumours. The study’s lead author, Dr. Jared Ehrhart explained the approach used in the trial, saying: “Our previous studies with AD modeled mice demonstrated that multiple intravenous injections of HUCBCs can reduce behavioral impairment, mitigate amyloid-β plaque formation, and modulate the immune response. In this study, we attempted to ascertain the distribution of HUCBCs in multiple organs, tumorigenic potential of the cells, and ability of the cells to infiltrate the brain parenchyma.”

The researchers found that the stem cells became distributed throughout the body following the transplantation and many stem cells persisted in the central nervous system for at least 4 weeks. They found no tumours in the mice that received stem cells.

The results of this research are a very important step forward for researching the affect of cord blood stem cells on Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: Transplanted human umbilical cord blood cells may offer therapy for Alzheimer’s sufferers