Can I be a donor?

Someone emailed me earlier this week about this article, reporting on a small study using stem cells from MS patients' own fat. The study was too small (only three participants) to draw a lot of conclusions, but it does raise some interesting questions.

First off, who knew there were stem cells in fat? That's entirely new to me. And of course, it raises the question of whether those of us with abundant stores can donate to those poor skinny few.

Well, I'm kidding about that last part. Sort of.

We all know what a controversial issue stem cells have been because of the debate over embryonic stem cells. Some promising research has been done with adult stem cells, but the article seems to imply that deriving adult stem cells from fat is a simpler process.

Won't it be wonderful if this turns out to be an effective treatment? Although, you have to love the irony - the anecdotal evidence suggesting that diet plays a factor in the development of MS includes the fact that MS rates increase when a country's diet becomes Westernized. It would be just too rich if our lovehandles turned out to be the key to wellness.