Curing Brain Diseases by Growing New Cells?

Blueprints to 'Neuron Factories?'

Scientists are getting closer to reaching one of the Holy Grails of medical research -- regenerating brain cells to wipe out a wide range of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and epilepsy. 

What distinguishes the Florida researchers is their ability to monitor every change along the way.

They also record the chemical and electrical activity during each change, and that has given them a comprehensive image of exactly where the process starts, how it changes, and the end results.
"We have a fingerprint of what the cell looks like, and what all of its children look like en route to making lots of new brain cells,'' he says. "That has never been done before." Read more