Watching Stem Cells Repair the Brain
Watching Stem Cells Repair the Human Brain Monday, August 17, 2009 TAU researcher shows viability of bone marrow stem cells with unique MRI tracking methods There is no known cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But new hope, in the form of stem cells created from the patient's own bone marrow, can be found — and literally seen — in laboratories at Tel Aviv University. Dr. Yoram Cohen of TAU's School of Chemistry has recently proven the viability of these innovative stem cells, called mesenchymal stem cells, using in-vivo MRI. Dr. Cohen has been able to track their progress within the brain, and initial studies indicate they can identify unhealthy or damaged tissues, migrate to them, and potentially repair or halt cell degeneration. His findings have been reported in the journal Stem Cells. "By monitoring the motion of these cells, you get information about how viable they are, and how they can benefit the tiss...