50,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year in the United States, and around half a million people live with the condition.In the disease’s early stages, before symptoms appear, certain brain cells called the “substantia nigra” start to die.
These cells produce dopamine, a nerve signaling molecule, or neurotransmitter, which is essential for the smooth movement of muscles.There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, but one promising line of research involves transplanting nerve cells into the brain to replace lost functions.
Experts could potentially use the same approach to repair damage caused by other neurodegenerative disorders and trauma. However, for such therapies to succeed, the transplanted nerve cells must make the.