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-A promising new treatment alternative for vascular dementia, the second dementia after Alzheimer's.

A joint research team consisting of Mirae Cell Bio (Co-CEOs Dr. Kim Eun-young and Dr. Chung Young-min), a bio-venture company specializing in stem cell therapy, Professor Lee Man-yeol from the Department of Stem Cell Regeneration Engineering at Konkuk University, Professor Oh Jae-sang from the Department of Neurosurgery at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, and Professor Park Se-pil from the Department of Biomedical Information at Jeju National University, has recently published groundbreaking research in Cells, a prestigious international journal in the field of cell and molecular biology. The study demonstrates that multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MMSCs) are effective in improving cognitive and behavioral disorders caused by vascular dementia.

According to Mirae Cell Bio Co., Ltd., founded in 2006 by Professor Park Se-pil, dementia—a chronic degenerative brain disease—is generally classified into Alzheimer’s disease (69.0%) and vascular dementia (21.0%).

In this study, MMSCs were injected intracranially into a mouse model of vascular dementia, induced by chronic brain ischemic injury. As a result, cognitive and behavioral impairments caused by cerebrovascular damage recovered rapidly to normal levels. Notably, the study showed significant improvements in cerebrovascular stability and the promotion of blood-brain barrier (BBB) formation. These therapeutic effects were superior to those of conventional treatments such as donepezil and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

In particular, MMSCs demonstrated the ability to suppress neuroinflammation and cell death, maintain the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and promote neovascularization by inhibiting the Rock1/2 signaling pathway. These mechanisms were verified at the molecular level through genetic and tissue staining analyses.

Professor Park Se-pil of Jeju National University stated, “We are optimistic about the potential of expanding this research into treatments for various intractable neurological and immune diseases, including dementia.”

Mirae Cell Bio Co., Ltd. has completed a patent application related to the findings of this study.