Stem Cells Explained: Aging, Repair, and the Future of Medicine

The human body is made up of a wide variety of cell types, each fulfilling a specific role.

Some carry oxygen through the bloodstream, others transmit signals in the brain, and others

form the structure of muscles, skin, and organs. Although these cells differ greatly in

function, they all contain the same genetic information, allowing the body to operate as a

coordinated system. Most cells in the body are specialized, meaning they are committed to a

particular role and cannot readily transform into another cell type, whereas stem cells are

undifferentiated, meaning they can differentiate into different cell types.1

To help further investigate stem cells and discuss future scientific directions, this blog is

based on an interview with Professor Naijin Li, who holds a PhD in Developmental and Stem

Cell Biology from the University of Toronto, where she studied developmental neuroscience

and cancer biology. As Professor Li noted, the interview informed the discussion below, offering a perspective on what stem cells are, how they behave over time, and why they are a popular topic in modern biology.

Why are Stem Cells Valuable?

Stem cells are incredibly important because, unlike specialized cells, they can both produce

more stem cells and differentiate into a range of specialized cell types.1 This flexibility is

essential for growth, tissue maintenance, and repair throughout the body. One way to

understand this difference is to think of cells as building blocks: most cells are like LEGO

pieces that have already been shaped for a specific purpose, while stem cells are like basic

blocks that can be assembled into many different forms depending on what the body needs.

How Aging Impacts Stem Cells

A common question is: if there are cells that can replace old ones and repair damage, why

does aging occur in the first place? According to Professor Li, as individuals age, their stem cells also appear to age, with their regenerative capacity declining.2 Over time, stem cells accumulate DNA damage, experience changes in their environments, and overall divide less efficiently, which limits their ability to replenish tissues. As a result, the organs and tissues are repaired more slowly. This makes the body more vulnerable to injury and disease, and explains why healing generally slows down as we age.

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues

and/or cells in the body. This is a major topic in biomedical research, which, according to

Professor Li, has recently attracted considerable attention due to its substantial potential to

treat or prevent a wide range of diseases and conditions. An example she used to illustrate

how this could work was Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition in which, in

theory, stem cells could be used to regenerate neurons affected by the disease, which would

then be transplanted back into the patient. While many stem-cell-based treatments arecurrently being explored, most remain in clinical trials due to legal, ethical, and social

concerns that impede development.

Potential Future Uses of Stem Cell Therapy

Looking ahead, stem cell therapy could become crucial in addressing a range of conditions

for which there are few current treatments. As Professor Li discussed, ongoing studies are investigating its ability to regenerate damaged tissues, such as heart muscle after injury, repair spinal cord damage, and replace cells affected by neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, stem cells could enhance personalized medicine by using patient-specific cells to minimize immune rejection.

Although these applications are mostly in the experimental stage, continued research could broaden their use in future medical treatments.

Risks of Stem Cell Therapy

While stem cell therapies show significant potential, they also carry risks, particularly

because many treatments remain in early clinical trials. It is important for individuals to

consult their family physician before pursuing any stem cell therapy to better understand

potential risks and ensure that decisions are informed by reliable medical advice.

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The author is not a medical professional. The above content was accumulated through a conversation with Professor Naijin Li and other various sources and is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical recommendations. Readers should consult a physician or their family doctor if they have further questions on the topic presented, or for professional health and medical advice.

David Popowich and Faisal Karmali are Investment Advisors with CIBC Wood Gundy in Calgary.

The views of David Popowich, Faisal Karmali, and the guest author and referenced material do not necessarily reflect those of CIBC World Markets Inc.

This information, including any opinion, is based on various sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change.

CIBC Private Wealth consists of services provided by CIBC and certain of its subsidiaries, including CIBC Wood Gundy, a division of CIBC World Markets Inc.

References

1. Stem Cell Basics. Stem Cell Information [Internet]. National Institutes of Health; [cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from:

https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/stc-basics. (Stem Cell Information)

2. Ahmed ASI, Sheng MHC, Wasnik S, Baylink DJ, Lau KHW. Effect of aging on stem cells. World J Exp Med. 2017;7(1):1–10.

doi:10.5493/wjem.v7.i1.1. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)