How can stem cells help treat neural diseases?

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that grow and differentiate into specialized cells. Neural stem cells, which originate in the central nervous system are responsible for giving rise to the various functional and support cells in the nervous cells. Only a small number of neural stem cells persist in the brain into adulthood. These are located in specific parts of the brain. Although neural stem cells in the adult brain are mostly quiescent, plenty of evidence supports the role they play in aging, plasticity, regeneration, and disease of the nervous system. 

Neural stem cells hold great promise in cell transplantation and translational medicine in treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease as well as in the treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries.