A Review of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

"The transition from being a wife and a love, to a mommy and a caregiver because Leonard developed Alzheimer’s - I lost my best friend, my love, my comrade, my business companion, I lost it all. That’s the most difficult part [sic],” says Jean [1]. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently affects 55 million people worldwide, including Jean and her husband, who must cope with the debilitating effects of the disease daily [2]. Each year, this unforgiving disease claims an additional 10 million diagnoses, demonstrating the growing and devastating impact [2]. AD is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain [3]. These changes result in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, and behavioral issues, which ultimately affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities [3]. Despite its prevalence, a cure for AD remains elusive. Current treatments may slow disease progression but cannot effectively reverse or prevent its onset. This limitation has sparked an international race among researchers to discover novel therapies that can cure AD instead of slowing progression. Among these, stem cell therapy has emerged as a therapeutic option with increasing promise. Stem cells have garnered significant attention in medical research due to their ability to differentiate into different cell types and regenerate damaged tissue [4]. They represent a novel approach to combating the underlying causes of AD. However, which types of stem cells hold the most promise, and what mechanisms make them useful? Exploring these mechanisms, their applications, and the challenges associated with their use reveals the transformative potential of stem cell therapy in the fight against AD.