Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Latest News
Researchers at Kyoto University conducted a Phase I/II clinical trial to assess the safety and side effects of stem cell therapy using dopaminergic progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
About Parkinson’s Disease
- Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
- Dopamine is a critical neurotransmitter responsible for regulating motor functions.
- The conventional treatment mainly involves dopaminergic medications, but these do not restore lost neurons and may have long-term side effects.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
- iPSCs are pluripotent stem cells generated from adult somatic cells (like skin or blood).
- They are reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state, allowing them to develop into any human cell type.
- Used in:
- Diabetes (converted into beta cells),
- Leukaemia (to generate new blood cells),
- Neurological diseases.
- iPSCs are valuable in drug testing, disease modelling, and transplantation medicine.
Stem Cells
- Stem cells are undifferentiated primitive cells capable of developing into specialised cells like blood, muscle, or liver cells.
- Their ability to self-renew and differentiate makes them vital for regeneration and repair.
- Found in:
- Bone marrow,
- Gastrointestinal tract (divide regularly),
- Less active in organs like the pancreas or the heart (divide under specific conditions).
Types of Stem Cells: Embryonic vs Adult Stem Cells
|
Feature |
Embryonic Stem Cells |
Adult Stem Cells |
|
Potency |
Pluripotent (any body cell) |
Multipotent (limited types) |
|
Source |
Embryo (blastocyst stage) |
Mature tissues (e.g., bone marrow) |
|
Growth in lab |
Can be easily cultured |
Difficult to isolate & expand |
|
Ethical concerns |
High |
Low |
Source: TH
Last updated on August, 2026
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Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease FAQs
Q1. What is Parkinson’s Disease?+
Q2. How does stem cell therapy help in Parkinson’s Disease?+
Q3. What type of stem cells are used for Parkinson's therapy?+
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