Neural stem cells promote neuroplasticity: a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that neuroplasticity, such as synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, exists throughout the normal lifespan but declines with age and is significantly impaired in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, promoting neuroplasticity may represent an effective strategy with which Alzheimer’s disease can be alleviated. Due to their significant ability to self-renew, differentiate, and migrate, neural stem cells play an essential role in reversing synaptic and neuronal damage, reducing the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid-β, tau protein, and neuroinflammation, and secreting neurotrophic factors and growth factors that are related to plasticity. These events can promote synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis to repair the microenvironment of the mammalian brain. Consequently, neural stem cells are considered to represent a potential regenerative therapy with which to improve Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss how neural stem cells regulate neuroplasticity and optimize their effects to enhance their potential for treating Alzheimer’s disease in the clinic.

Bergamot essential oil improves CUMS‐induced depression‐like behaviour in rats by protecting the plasticity of hippocampal neurons

“…17,18 Recent studies have found that, impaired plasticity of hippocampal neurons contributes to the pathogenesis of depression. 4 CUMS lead to impairment of plasticity of hippocampal neurons and depressive-like behaviours in animal models, 5,18,19 hence promoting hippocampal neuroplasticity improved CUMS-induced depressive-like mood. 18 PSD-95 and SYP are important markers of neuroplasticity in the HIPP.…”

“…3 Pathogenesis of depression is closely associated with impaired plasticity of hippocampal neurons. 4 Hence, modulating plasticity of hippocampal neurons may be a novel method to improve depression. In this paper, we planned to establish a rat model of depression by subjecting it to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), so as to investigate the effects of BEO on depressive-like behaviours and hippocampal neuroplasticity in CUMS-induced rats.…”

Rehmanniae Radix Preparata ameliorates behavioral deficits and hippocampal neurodevelopmental abnormalities in ADHD rat model

“…This suggested that SHR rats have impaired neuronal myelin development, which may be involved in the development of ADHD. Neural stem cells (NSCs) can self-renew and provide new neurons to the brain tissue ( Chang et al, 2024 ). Thus, endogenous NSCs could potentially be used for brain repair.…”

Targeting autophagy in Alzheimer’s disease: Animal models and mechanisms

“…Stem cell therapy has shown efficacy in enhancing memory and cognitive functions in animal models of AD, with extensive preclinical research dedicated to elucidating the mechanisms involved ( Chang et al, 2024 ; Temple, 2023 ). Transplanted bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) stimulate neurogenesis and inhibit apoptosis, regulated by crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy ( Qin et al, 2021a ).…”