Treatment with adipose stem cells in a patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease: case report

Magda Tsolaki,1,2 Stelios Zygouris,1,3 Vassilis Tsoutsikas,2 Doxakis Anestakis,2,4,5 George Koliakos6,7 1Third Department of Neurology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Thessaloniki, Greece; 3CND+, 4Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 5Laboratory of General Biology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; 6Biohellenika Stem Cells Bank, Thessaloniki, Greece; 7Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Objective: This article presents the case of a female patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The patient was treated with cholinesterase inhibitors and also with intravenous administration of autologous adipose stem cells.Methods: The patient was assessed with a neuropsychological battery including measures of general cognition, functional problems, neuropsychiatric issues, memory (verbal, visual and episodic), verbal learning and visuospatial abilities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were conducted before and after the treatment with stem cells.Results: A transient and mild improvement of scores in measures of general cognition and neuropsychiatric issues was evident. A rapid deterioration followed the initial improvement. The first MRI scan showed ischemic areas in periventricular white matter of both hemispheres, as well as in both temporal and parietal lobes. The second MRI scan revealed the same picture with no significant changes.Conclusion: This case report indicates that the administration of stem cells is feasible in a clinical setting however its effectiveness in the treatment of AD is uncertain. The improvement of the patient's condition highlights the potential therapeutic action of stem cells, however the rapid deterioration poses questions concerning limited effectiveness or possible side effects of stem cell administration. Further research is needed in order to clarify the method's effectiveness.Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, stem cells, case report, dementi

Potter Syndrome: A case study

Potter syndrome (PS) is a term used to describe a typical physical appearance, which is the result of dramatically decreased amniotic fluid volume secondary to renal diseases such as bilateral renal agenesis (BRA). Other causes are abstraction of the urinary tract, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and renal hypoplasia. In 1946, Dr Edith Potter characterized this prenatal renal failure/renal agenesis and the resulting physical characteristics of the fetus/infant that result from oligohydramnios as well as the complete absence of amniotic fluid (anhydramnios). Oligohydramnios and anhydramnios can also be due to the result of leakage of amniotic fluid from rupturing of the amniotic membranes. The case reported below, concerns of stillborn boy with potter syndrome

The quest to slow ageing through drug discovery

Although death is inevitable, individuals have long sought to alter the course of the ageing process. Indeed, ageing has proved to be modifiable; by intervening in biological systems, such as nutrient sensing, cellular senescence, the systemic environment and the gut microbiome, phenotypes of ageing can be slowed sufficiently to mitigate age-related functional decline. These interventions can also delay the onset of many disabling, chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration, in animal models. Here, we examine the most promising interventions to slow ageing and group them into two tiers based on the robustness of the preclinical, and some clinical, results, in which the top tier includes rapamycin, senolytics, metformin, acarbose, spermidine, NAD+ enhancers and lithium. We then focus on the potential of the interventions and the feasibility of conducting clinical trials with these agents, with the overall aim of maintaining health for longer before the end of life