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Possible Cure For MS Turns Common Skin Cells Into Working Brain Cells

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have discovered a way to convert ordinary skin cells into myelinating cells, or brain cells that have been destroyed in patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other myelin disorders. The research, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, may now enable 'on demand' production of myelinating cells, which insulate and protect neurons to facilitate the delivery of brain impulses to the rest of the body."

2 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Obligatory? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    In 2013 Slashdot, this drek is marked informative. Not a post about the subject. Not even a post about Microsoft. Just a post letting us know what someone else might say.

    You should all be ashamed.

  2. Cautiously Optimistic by organgtool · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The article wasn't clear on whether or not this could reverse the damage caused by MS or whether it would just prevent further damage. I know several people that suffer from this disease and it's utterly horrible. The worst case is my uncle who went from being in peak physical condition to requiring a cane or wheelchair to get around. He now stutters when he speaks, has trouble holding his head up, and can't keep his eyes still enough to even focus on words while trying to read. This disease slowly takes away all of your faculties and strips you of all autonomy and independence and a cure for it can't come fast enough.