Stem Cells to Alter Cognitive Function
Neural stem cells are most abundant during early embryo development and there are a number of specific genes which are under investigation as regards their impact on neurogenesis. Specific intrinsic factors which influence the neural stem cells’ differentiation and growth include FGF, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP), and WNTs (the Wingless genes and Int genes). The presence and concentrations of these factors can substantially affect the CNS development, with the possibility that an imbalance can occur between excitatory and inhibitory neurons resulting in abnormal degrees of cortical circuit activation. Similarly, the variations in such factors may lead to alterations in the size or structure of different regions of the brain responsible for emotional processing, leading to difficulties with this type of cognitive action. Most of these factors exert their effects fairly early in development and decline with age, although FGF continues to be expressed in adult tissues such as the postnatal cerebral cortex and adult neural stem cell niches. This continued activity makes it a target for possible manipulation when utilizing neural stem cells for regenerative purposes in brain and CNS diseases.
Growing New Brain Cells Takes Time
Adult neural stem cells go through several stages however, prior to differentiating into neural cells such as glia or neurons. As the multipotent stem cells have fairly slow proliferation rates and become neural progenitor cells prior to finalizing their cell type the central nervous system has a slow and careful process of integrating new neurological material into the existing matrix. The process is adaptive and allows for cautious feedback and regulation to ensure, for the most part, that certain types of cell are not over-produced, and that connections are healthy and functional. For scientists working with neural stem cells in acute injury, or with a sudden infusion, or activation, of stem cells there may be problems controlling this careful process of integration. When considering stem cell treatment of conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, or spinal cord injury, researchers are still in the early stages of investigating the safety of such an influx of active stem cells with Phase II research to follow to determine the treatments’ efficacy. Although there are many hyperbolic claims that stem cells will be able to make us stronger, faster, and smarter, the idea of neurological stem cell treatments increasing brain power remains at the extreme edges of theoretical science and claims to have carried out such treatments successfully are highly questionable.
Read More –> Stem Cells and Mental Health: Depression and Autism Treatment?
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