Stem cells not necessarily magic bullet for brain-wasting diseases.

2004 JUL 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Despite the high profile that Nancy Reagan and others have given the idea of using embryonic stem cells to treat Alzheimer disease, advances are likely to come faster from other approaches.

Experts cite other more promising efforts that in 5-10 years may be used to fight the disease that led to President Reagan's death.

"I just think everybody feels there are higher priorities for seeking effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease and for identifying preventive strategies," said Marilyn Albert, a Johns Hopkins University researcher who chairs the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Association.

Stem cells from human embryos can form all types of cells, and the hope is that they one day could be used to replace cells damaged from such conditions as diabetes, spinal cord injury or Parkinson disease. But experts say Alzheimer, by the very nature of how it attacks the brain, would pose a far more daunting challenge to that approach.

"There's an awful lot going on right now that perhaps holds a little bit more immediate promise for trying to slow the disease, or even cut off its development," said Marcelle Morrison-Bogorad, associate director of the National Institute on Aging's neuroscience and neuropsychology of aging program.

She and Albert cited, for example, efforts to attack the buildup of clumps of protein called amyloid in the brain, and methods for spotting the disease early. That research will probably pay off in 5 or 10 years, earlier than any expected advances from stem cells, Albert said, because so much has to be learned about how to make stem cells useful against the disease.

"All the more reason we should start [stem cell efforts] now, because it's going to take a long time," she said.