Cells From Umbilical Cord May Boost Cognition in Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which affects an estimated 26 million people worldwide, is the fourth leading cause of death among the elderly and the leading cause of dementia. Predictions are that the number of AD cases will quadruple by 2050.

Although pharmacological methods for treating AD have been discovered, none significantly delay the progression of the disease. However, cell transplantation research using animals modeled with AD has indicated that human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) can ameliorate some cognitive deficits and reduce the effects of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, one of the physiological hallmarks of AD, comprised of peptides of 36-43 amino acids. However, the role that HUCBCs play in Aβ clearance has yet to be elucidated.

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