Stem cells and their potentials for therapy are major areas of research. The literature on the subject
is expanding at a very rapid pace and the great prospectives offered by these remarkable cells are continuously
being unravelled. The use of stem cells vis-à-vis neurological diseases is of particular interest since many such
diseases have a poor prognosis and generally decrease considerably the quality of life. Treatment of
neurological diseases is complicated by the lack of regeneration of the nervous system, the neuroanatomical
complexity, the presence of the blood-brain barrier and the possible spread of excitotoxicity. Hence, more
effective ways how to intervene on these pathological processes are required. This review highlights, the
fundamental aspects of stem cell biology, with a special reference to neural stem cells and their niches.
Dysmyelinating diseases and invasive brain tumours are specifically considered since, they are presumed
candidates for successful clinical application of stem cell therapy.peer-reviewe
