New brain cells grown:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-flat-brain-organoids-grown-3d-printed.html

We may have the technology to repair brains in the near future.

Also: word of the day: Gyrificationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrification

V

@sonhouse said
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-03-flat-brain-organoids-grown-3d-printed.html

We may have the technology to repair brains in the near future.

Also: word of the day: Gyrificationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrification

V

"near future" is a stretch. Those organoids do not organize in a way that resembles human brain tissue. They would also need to integrate into existing neural tissue, which is a big ask.

@wildgrass
The integration part would be when they use cells from the same person to avoid rejection issues.
Besides, this is a first, no doubt they know full well the issues associated with actual brain rebuilds.
But it is a good start.

@sonhouse said
@wildgrass
The integration part would be when they use cells from the same person to avoid rejection issues.
Besides, this is a first, no doubt they know full well the issues associated with actual brain rebuilds.
But it is a good start.

Avoiding rejection is one concern. But integration is another. The old neurons would need to form (correct and functional) connections with the new ones. This detail is not trivial, as these connections are usually made in coordination with embryonic development of other organ systems.

@wildgrass
Yep, it is difficult but I think in a few years, or a decade, who knows, we will be able to regrow brain cells, maybe even regrow brain cells in Alzheimer's and the like.

@sonhouse said
@wildgrass
Yep, it is difficult but I think in a few years, or a decade, who knows, we will be able to regrow brain cells, maybe even regrow brain cells in Alzheimer's and the like.

I think a much more promising approach in this area is to understand why brain cells are dying and prevent it from happening. Regrowing brain cells in a dish is simple, but regrowing an integrated, functional brain tissue is very very difficult.

Edit: These brain organoids are and will be useful for lots of things e.g. understanding the processes of Alzheimers, screening drugs, mapping environmental conditions that promote brain activity etc. It seems unlikely, though, that we're looking at transplanting brain tissues in humans anywhere in our grandkids lifetimes.

@wildgrass
I think they will continue pursuing this avenue of research though.