Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and stem cell therapy | Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full Text

Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and stem cell therapy | Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full Text

Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and stem cell therapy

• Thomas Duncan and
• Michael ValenzuelaEmail author

Stem Cell Research & Therapy20178:111

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-017-0567-5

©  The Author(s). 2017

• Published: 12 May 2017

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents arguably the most significant social, economic, and medical crisis of our time. Characterized by progressive neurodegenerative pathology, AD is first and foremost a condition of neuronal and synaptic loss. Repopulation and regeneration of depleted neuronal circuitry by exogenous stem cells is therefore a rational therapeutic strategy. This review will focus on recent advances in stem cell therapies utilizing animal models of AD, as well as detailing the human clinical trials of stem cell therapies for AD that are currently undergoing development.

Keywords

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Embryonic stem cells
• Induced pluripotent stem cells
• Mesenchymal stem cells
• Neural stem cells