Mini brain made from stem cells for Alzheimer’s disease research

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The Pascual Maragall Foundation, through its Barcelonaßeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), developed brain organoids from stem cellsknown as mini brainsmodel development Alzheimer’s disease and analyze in detail the factors influencing it appearance and progress. This trailer opens new directions of research this may change the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and their underlying mechanisms.

The study, led by Dr. Laura García González from the Barcelset Brain Research Center, opens new lines of research to better understand Alzheimer’s disease.

Brain organoids, three-dimensional cell cultures that mimic the structure and function of the real human brain, allow study complex diseases in an innovative way and without resorting to animal experiments. According to Dr. Laura Garcia Gonzalezresearcher at the BBRC Genomics Research Group and project leader, highlights that brain organoids They represent a critical element for studying complex human diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. “They are very powerful forecasting tool which contributes to the analysis of various genetic factors in the development of the disease“, he states.

The project, launched in 2022, uses stem cells derived from specialized cells obtained from blood samples of Pascual Maragall Foundation research participants. The process occurs in these cells “cellular reprogramming”allowing them to completely change their identity and become stem cells again.

Brain organoids are in vitro models that mimic the functioning of the human brain, offering an alternative to animal experiments.

From here organoidswhich simulate the environment of the human brain and allow us to analyze the development of Alzheimer’s disease in the earliest stages. “Thanks to the use of brain organoids, we will be able study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the early stages of Alzheimer’s diseasebringing us closer to preventing, slowing or even stopping disease progression.says Dr. Garcia.

In addition, the project involves the creation stem cell bankwhich will allow us to develop screening platform for evaluating new drug addiction treatments. This could speed up the search for effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, an area that still poses significant challenges.

“Through the use of brain organoids, we may be closer to preventing, slowing, or even stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Thanks to this research, new directions of research were opened, such as studying impact of Covid-19 in the brains of people with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. The project explores the connection between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and neurodegeneration, with the goal of understanding how the infection affects different genetic contexts.