Source: University of Edinburgh
Date: August 23, 2011
Summary:
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have for the first time generated stem cells from one of the most rapidly progressing forms of Parkinson's disease. The development will help research into the condition as it will enable scientists to model the disease in the laboratory to shed light on why certain nerve cells die.
The research, led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with UCL (University College London), then used these skin cells to generate brain nerve cells affected by the disease. The ability to generate these nerve cells will make it easier to monitor the effectiveness of potential new drugs that could slow or halt progress of the condition. The aim would be to find drugs that can prevent the death of these key cells -- known as neurons -- which break down as a result of Parkinson's. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
