Using stem cells derived from the patient's own spinal cord, a team of Korean scientists have revived the damaged part of his brain. The scientists have also been successful in using the stem cell treatment on other patients suffering from arterial and bone disorders.

"We've conducted clinical trials on a total of 74 patients, and 64 of them have shown a significant improvement without any signs of side effects"

But this procedure differs from applications that involve embryonic stem cell research, pioneered by Seoul National University Professor Hwang Woo-suk.

While embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos, adult stem cells are harvested from the bone marrows of the patients themselves. Embryonic stem cells are capable of forming all types of cells, but adult cells aren't that versatile. Experts say treatments using adult stem cells need to undergo more trials.

But this type of therapy is more likely to be put to practical use in the near future, since it is not affected by the controversy over embryonic research.

Arirang TV