Neural transplantation

Neural transplantation is the attempt to transplant neurons in an attempt to improve a number of nervous system disorders, including paralysis, Parkinson's disease etc

In parkinsons disease the first prospective randomised double-blind sham-placebo controlled trial of dopamine-producing cell transplants failed to show an improvement in quality of life although some significant clinical improvements were seen in patients below the age of 60. A significant problem was the excess release of dopamine by the transplanted tissue, leading to dystonias. Research in African green monkeys suggests that the use of stem cells might in future provide a similar benefit without inducing dystonias.