Stem cell research has been showing promise in the treatment of certain neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, and spinal cord injuries. But can stem cell research mean much to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, or is this form of research better off treating illnesses with less complicated structures?

A Controversial Method

Stem cell research is undoubtedly a controversial method of treatment and research. People have argued against stem cell research primarily from a religious standpoint, as they claim the procedure is immoral and wrong. Yet, embryonic stem cell research does not require the destruction of fetuses, nor does it require scientists to create or clone human beings. The method is practiced in other countries outside the United States but continues to meet roadblocks and barriers within the United States.

Too Complicated?

The question becomes whether treating Alzheimer’s disease with stem cell research is going to be a successful endeavor, and the answer remains that scientists are not sure. While the treatment has shown success at treating diseases that are more generalized within the neurological system such as Parkinson’s disease, it has not been studied as thoroughly for treatment with Alzheimer’s patients. This is primarily because Alzheimer’s disease affects a wide area of the brain—virtually the entire cerebral cortex. This makes it difficult for scientists to deliver the stem cells to the brain concisely and makes the procedure much more complicated and complex.

Since diseases like Parkinson’s are generally more localized, it is easier to treat those specific areas of the brain. Scientists have not determined that treating Alzheimer’s disease with stem cell research is practical. Some scientists have speculated that they could locate certain dormant cells within the brain that have not yet been destroyed and effectively switch them on. If the cells could be stimulated to become the right kind of cell to replace the destroyed nerve cells in the brain and could be stimulated to divide rapidly enough, the cells could then be moved to damaged parts of the brain to replace those cells. This remains a complicated procedure and one that is simply not practical in treating the majority of patients living with Alzheimer’s disease. Research on stem cell treatment continues, however, and new developments are being made in hopes of making the procedure less complex.