Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons Rescue Motor Defects in Parkinsonian Monkeys, RIKEN Center for Molecular Imaging Science Study

Researchers have derived dopaminergic neurons from bone marrow stem cells in monkeys. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty walking. It is caused by loss of the neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine (known as dopaminergic neurons). One of the primary goals in Parkinson's disease research is to develop a replacement for dopaminergic neurons.