Neural Progenitors by Direct Reprogramming: Strategies for the Treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases

Age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's (PD) and Alzheimer′s (AD) disease, are seriously threatening the health of Chinese citizens, with PD and AD patient populations increasing at a rate of 100,000 and 300,000 per year, respectively (1, 2). Although there is no cure for AD or PD, a variety of medications can provide relief from some of the symptoms. Recently, the development of direct reprogramming technologies has shed light on promising strategies for stem cell-based therapies for AD and PD. This review will focus on neural progenitor cells and induced neural progenitor cells studied in our laboratory, and discuss their potential applications in AD and PD treatment.