Neuroimaging for optimization of stem cell therapy in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Out of all the neurodegenerative diseases, cell-based therapy has been most intensively tested in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Recently, technical advancements in stem cell research have opened the possibility of using stem cell-induced dopaminergic neurons in the clinical setting. However, many issues are yet to be overcome in order to achieve effective and safe therapy before clinical trials can be possible. Here, we discuss how neuroimaging techniques can be used to accelerate studies of stem cell therapy in PD. Neuroimaging techniques allow us to measure various biological markers repeatedly and quantitatively, which may serve as a powerful tool for optimizing the use of stem cells in preclinical and clinical trials. © 2013 Informa UK, Ltd.