HIGH-EFFICIENCY PROTOCOL FOR CHOLINERGIC NEURON GENERATION AS A MODEL FOR INVESTIGATING ALZHEIMER`S DISEASE

Alzheimer`s Disease (AD) has been extensively studied, utilizing models like post-mortem brain samples, cell lines, and animal models. However, it is vital to acknowledge the limitations of these models, as they can impact research outcomes. Animal models, while widely employed, cannot fully replicate the complexity of the human brain, potentially impeding the translation of findings to humans. Similarly, post-mortem samples are valuable for identifying cellular changes but provide limited insight into disease progression and therapeutic interventions. In this regard, the emergence of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has revolutionized AD research by generating patient-specific neurons for more specific investigations into molecular and cellular mechanisms, which is complementary to other study models of AD. However, differentiating iPS cells into cholinergic neurons, crucial for cognition and affected in AD, is still a challenge and further research is warranted to develop cholinergic differentiation protocols that can enhance our understanding of AD pathology.