Motor Neurons Created From Skin Cells Of Two ALS Patients

Washington (dbTechno) – U.S. researchers have come out and stated that they have found a way to transform skin cells of two patients with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease into motor neurons.

The study was carried out by researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, and focused on ALS.

Motor neurons are the cells which die along with the progression of Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS.

The cells were taken from an 82-year old, as well as an 89-year old patient, both with ALS.

This is a huge step towards possibly treating ALS, as they will be able to have an unlimited supply of these cells so that they can study them, and figure out how the disease progresses.

There is currently no known cure for ALS, which was named Lou Gehrig’s disease after the New York Yankees star died from it in 1941.

Researchers believe that they have been unable to develop a treatment because they have had no way to figure out the process of the disease. This is a major step in that direction.

The study has been published in the journal Science.

• Share
• Tweet
• "&title=""">