Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with impaired motor function as a direct consequence of dopaminergic (DA) neuron loss. The mechanisms underlying PD remain largely ambiguous, and the currently available pharmacotherapies fail to provide long-term behavioural rescue. Recent innovations in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) field have redefined the future of PD research and future treatment options. The capacity of iPSCs to be directed towards a neuronal fate is currently being exploited in PD modelling, drug screening, and in early-stage pre-clinical cell replacement studies. Their potential reward far surpasses that of currently available pharmacological interventions, but concerns with safety, heterogeneity, survival and functionality will need to be addressed before iPSC-derived DA neuron transplantation can become a viable option for PD patients. (Am J Transl Med 2018. 2:111-119)