Cell-based therapy in Alzheimer's disease: Can human fetal cholinergic neurons "untangle the skein"?

The clinical application of the so-called “regenerative medicine” aimed at replacing diseased tissues started to be investigated also in the case of nervous tissue loss. Nevertheless, the proper strategy to functionally replace the damaged brain areas in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients is still under investigation. This is a perspective article based on the recent characterization of a primary culture of human cholinergic neurons isolated from the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert, which is the main vulnerable site of neurodegeneration in AD patients. This cellular model represents a valuable tool in order to decipher the most effective regenerative potential required by the transplanted cells.