The Controversy over Stem Cells and Parkinsons Disease...

The Controversy over Stem Cells and Parkinsons Disease Without any thought, without even noticing it happens, when one has an itch, they scratch it. The arm moves up to the face, the fingers reach down and move across the skin. This series of actions, which many of us do everyday is something individuals with Parkinsons disease struggle with every moment of their lives. Simple movements are replaced by frozen limbs that they or their nervous system can not move. Described by many as a type of momentary paralysis, the disease causes gradual degeneration in patients until they are no longer able to perform the most basic bodily functions, such as swallowing or blinking. Parkinsons disease is a neurological disorder that is†¦show more content†¦In the past twenty years, many drugs have been developed to treat the disease. Although the cause of Parkinsons disease is still unknown, scientists have been developing methods of treatment and therapy. The idea is to replace dopamine in the brain, which is accomplished, to some extent, with the administration of L-Dopa. In conjunction with other drugs, L- Dopa inhibits the enzymes that break down L-dopa in the liver, thus making a greater part of it available to the brain (5). This treatment is very successful, but it only hinders the disease for a time and it is by no means a cure. That leaves us with stem-cells and the role they play in treatment of Parkinsons disease. There are many different types of stem-cells which can be implanted in patients to regenerate or replace the damaged or abnormal cells caused by not only diseases like Parkinsons but also Alzheimers and spinal cord injuries (2). A specific example in relation to Parkinsons is the harvesting of embryonic stem cells. These human embryonic stem cells can be transplanted into the brain to replace and create dopamine neurons. The controversy is in how one can obtain these stem cells. During fertilization, in humans, the embryo is hollow and contains cells that eventually develop into a fetus (1). Researchers have discovered, as recently as 1998, that the cells in the embryo contain allShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Stem Cell Research Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesComposition Stem Cell Research According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a stem cell is â€Å"a simple cell in the body that is able to develop into any one of various kinds of cells (such as blood cells, skin cells, etc.).† There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. The adult stem cells can can be found in brain, bone marrow, blood, etc. The embryonic stem cells come from a four to five day human embryo during the blastocyst phase (Crosta) . The controversy behind the topic usually stems fromRead MoreThe Debate Of Stem Cell Technology Essay1441 Words   |  6 Pagesdecided to focus on the topic of stem cell technology. 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