Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease in Under-Resourced Settings

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neuron in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the basal ganglia. Its etiology is fully unknown; however, it could occur as a result of a mix of genetic predisposition, environmental factors and possibly aging. the build-up of alpha-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies is the major cause of the neuronal damage seen in PD. There drugs presently available are for managing the symptoms related with PD with no cure available, a lot of research is ongoing as far as PD drug discovery is concerned. Some treatments such as stem cell therapy, deep brain stimulation (DBS), herbal remedies among others have been suggested to have potentials of curing PD. Stem cell therapy involves the replacement of dopaminergic neurons using either the induced pluripotent (iPSCs) or embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The use of this treatment strategy has shown promising effects in the reversal of PD. This chapter aims to explore the possibility of stem cell therapies in the treatment of PD.