The ABC of Stem Cell Therapies for Neurological Disorders

Several neurological conditions may result in permanent or progressive injury to the nervous system, and one promising manner to alleviate this damage is through the use of cell-based therapies. Even though many of these treatments are still in the preliminary stages of testing on humans, pre-clinical research has shown encouraging and exciting outcomes. The fundamental principles of stem cell transplantation, such as neurogenesis, neural and mesenchymal stem cells, and their applications to various neurological disorders are discussed in this chapter. These conditions include stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The therapeutic potential of these novel approaches to slow down the aging process and lengthen health span is also covered in this chapter. Finally, we address the status of relevant clinical trials in the United States and other countries.