Can We Rebuild the Brain? | Sean Simonini | TEDxBoston Salon

Neurodegenerative conditions, traumatic brain injuries, strokes and age-related decline have long been considered permanent because the brain has little capacity to make new neurons. In this TEDxBoston Salon talk, Sean Simonini, Co-Founder and CEO of Sequel Neuroscience, argues that cell replacement by transplanting new neurons into the brain may reverse some of this damage. He traces cell replacement therapies, from early trials in Parkinson's disease to current research, and describes a shift in neurology from preserving what remains to restoring what was lost. The talk also asks what it means when new cells become part of a person.

• Why brain damage was long considered irreversible
• Cell replacement therapies, from early Parkinson's trials onward
• Shift in neurology from preserving to restoring brain tissue
• Sean Simonini's work on regenerative therapies for stroke and ALS

NOTE FROM TED: Research discussed in this talk remains an ongoing field of study. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf When neurons die, our brains have little capacity to make new ones. This has meant that neurodegenerative conditions, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and age-related decline have all been considered permanent and irreversible. Sean Simonini learned this the hard way, but sees hope in our ability to reverse this damage by transplanting new neurons into the brain. He traces how cell replacement therapies, from early trials in Parkinson’s to cutting edge science, are beginning to break the long-held belief that damage to the brain could never be undone. He argues that neurology is shifting from preserving what is left, to restoring what was lost, and asks what this means when new cells become a part of us. Sean Simonini is a Co-Founder & CEO of Sequel Neuroscience which is working on regenerative therapies for stroke, ALS, and other brain conditions. Previously, he was a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco and Harvard University, studying stem cell biology and neurodevelopment. He also led several nonprofits to grow the Boston biotech ecosystem, support public education, and address food insecurity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx