The Types Of Stem Cells - 1665 Words

Stem cells are a special type of cell that has the potential to differentiate into many different cell types. They work with in the body as an internal repair system. When they are not being used as a repair mechanism, the stem cells have the capability of long-term renewal. Because they are unspecialized cells, stem cells can be induced to become tissue or organ specific, thus giving them unique regenerative abilities that have the potential to treat diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that is characterized by high blood sugar levels due to inadequate production of insulin or inability of the cells of the body to respond appropriately to insulin. Diabetes is a long-term condition and it affects†¦show more content†¦Alzheimer’s, a common form of dementia, causes memory loss and other cognitive abilities that interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that worsens over time. In its early stages, p atients display symptoms of memory loss and eventually leads to stages where a person can no longer identify the environment they are in. although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are treatments the can temporarily slow the progress of dementia. Because Alzheimer’s is considered one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it is important to find alternative treatments that can stop its development. In this literature critique, research is being conducted to use stem cells as a therapeutic approach for diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Diabetes Stem cell educator therapy is a method in which the patient’s blood is circulated through a closed-loop system that separates lymphocytes from whole body and then adheres them to human cord derived stem cells (CB-SCs) before returning them to the body (Zhao Yong et al. 2012). The treatment of stem cell educator therapy can regenerate beta cells for patients with Type 1 diabetes. The stem cell educator therapy increased c-peptide secretion over a period of 24 weeks. Before treatment, c-peptide levels were almost non-existing, but after treatment the levels significantly increased. As a result of c-peptide secretion, therefore insulin production is also present. C-peptide is secreted into the blood stream