If You Are Alive -- You Might Survive -- Maybe Thrive

[Guest guest]

If You Are Alive -- You Might Survive -- Maybe Thrive.

*** New advances in nerve tissue stem cell research ***

---------------------------------------------------------

Quick Summary: New advances in stem cell research are

showing great promise to cure diseases of the nervous system

that previously looked impossible. Below is reference to an

exciting breakthrough with potential clinical application.

---------------------------------------------------------

This message below is obviously of interest to some

of us futurists on the CR List who delight in visions of

the Glorious Future. The message is specifically

applicable to CR, because it generates hope, and it

motivates and reinforces commitment to a proven regimen

of CR lifestyle that may be capable of preserving and

extending life.

In the rapidly developing field of applied stem cell

technology lies the promising future ability to cure

any disease, and to regenerate all human tissue

to a fully functional state, with potential to

essentially achieve an immortal being.

And specifically, applied stem cell technology holds the

increasingly likely key for restoring any and all lost

function to any part of the human body system.

The central and peripheral nervous system have been

recent hotbeds of research activity, because the success

observed in this field has been so spectacular, and

new knowledge is growing so enormously fast with each

discovery.

Here is an article of interest that reinforces this

optimistic point of view very clearly, and shows that

dramatic leaps of knowledge are possible in very short

amounts of time:

Source: Medical Institute

Date: Posted 8/15/2002

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020815072529.htm

Short quote:

" The clinical implications of these findings could be

important, " he said. " People attempting to use neural

stem cells therapeutically have tended to think that

any stem cell that makes a neuron will do, and that

you only need to get the culture conditions right.

But our finding that stem cells from different

regions of the peripheral nervous system have

intrinsic differences in their ability to respond to

factors, and their ability to make different types of

cells, suggests that it's really important to match

the origin of the stem cell to the therapeutic job

that you're trying to do. "

------------------------------------------------------

My observation #1:

------------------

The knowledge above that successful application of stem cells

to regenerate nervous system tissue will require matching the

origin of the stem cell type to the specific tissue type that is

being repaired -- that is an enormous conceptual breakthrough in

potential applied clinical applications to the nervous system.

My observation #2 (not from above):

------------------------------------

From research breakthroughs recently published (other articles),

it looks increasingly promising with advancing research,

that adult stem cells do indeed possess the same

intrinsic capabilities of even the most elemental

precursor non-specialized stem cells (neo-natal primitive

fetal cells). This capability would obviate the current

political turmoil blockading the free and open research

thrown up by " Right to Life " groups, who insist that

discarded fetal tissue still represents life, and is

more worthy of protection than a breathing human. (!!!)

My observation #3 (not from above):

-----------------------------------

A benefit perhaps of #2 above, is the possibility

of individual autologous donation -- where one can

use his own body tissue to cure his own body, free of

concerns about foreign tissue transplant rejection.

A person can not retrieve his own umbilical cord

from his mother's womb. But there may be no need

at all to revert so far back in time. In fact,

the current time may be just perfectly fine,

so long as the patient is still alive.

Some might argue the fact, but it still appears

unlikely that we will be resurrecting dead men soon.

Therefore, I am perfectly happy to continue a

life-sustaining, life-extending CR program,

with much optimism and hope for what the future

may bring.

-- Warren