Cells become stuck in the process of cell division.

In regular cells, like in bone and blood, the cells divide. But brain cells do not normally divide. The great majority will not divide. The neurons you're born with are pretty much what you have at end of life.

The finding would indicate that there are earlier events that are happening that precede the plaque build-up. The authors have demonstrated in animal models that these changes are happening as early as six months before the first signs of plaque accumulation. This seems to be a separate cellular process unlinked to the plaque process.

It really is going against the central grain of what we know, and it actually may lead to something more promising.

Pluripotent cells have the ability to grow into any cell in the body.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would expand research on embryonic stem cells by increasing the number of lines stem cells that would be eligible for federally funded research.