Scientists believe they can reverse dementiaBy Clair Weaver
December 02, 2007 12:10am
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AUSTRALIAN scientists believe they have cracked the code to
preventing dementia by restoring the decaying brain cells of a 65-
year-old to the levels of an 18-year-old.
The research, presented to pharmaceutical chiefs at a closed event
last week, offers new hope for the 200,000 Australians suffering
dementia – a group of degenerative brain disorders that includes
Alzheimer's disease.
The scientists have developed two ways to stimulate stem cells and
regenerate the brain, boosting mental functions such as understanding
and memory.
Leading stem cell scientist Dr Rod Rietze and his team at the
University of Queensland believe increasing the number of stem cells
in young and middle-aged brains will help stave off dementia.
"The idea is not to transplant anything – but to stimulate what we
have got," Dr Rietze said.
"The job of the stem cell is to do two things: keep the body
functioning and regenerate the tissue.
"It makes sense that if you increase the regenerative cells, the
brain lasts longer."
Dementia is a major health burden, costing more than $1.4 billion per
year – a figure that is expected to blow out due to a rapidly ageing
population and longer life expectancies.
As people get older, the number of stem cells in the brain decreases
rapidly and brain function deteriorates.
Dr Rietze's first approach to turning back the ageing clock involves
injecting growth hormones directly into the brains of mice.
The second approach involves using physical exercise on a treadmill
to trigger stem cells to multiply naturally and improve brain
function.
"When people do regular exercise, they age better," Dr Rietze
said. "There is a correlative relationship.
Dr Rietze and his team believe sustained physical activity may
prevent or delay the onset of age-related dementia as much as
injecting growth hormones, restoring stem cell levels of a 65-year-
old back to that of an 18-year-old.
The scientist, who funded his team's radical research with a $1
million Pfizer Fellowship he won in 2004, has submitted his work to
international medical journals.
"I think really the next step is to design treatment strategies, and
the prevention of diseases," he said.
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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