Slide 39 of 63

President Ronald Reagan was strongly prolife. Michael Reagan, son of Ronald Reagan, pointed out that his father opposed destruction of human embryos. With the death of Ronald Reagan, proponents of embryonic stem cell research have used his death as reason to support  ESC research. This was done despite the facts that Ronald Reagan died at an advanced age (93), and ESC therapies would never be useful as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

Quotes:

"The media should keep in mind that we are also members of the Reagan 'family,' and my father, as I do, opposed the creation of human embryos for the sole purpose of using their stem cells as possible medical cures."

Claims are junk science:
"Moreover, using the widely promoted and thoroughly discredited argument that stem cell research can lead to a cure of Alzheimer’s disease, the media and proponents of stem cell research have suggested that had the research been done a long time ago, my dad might have avoided the ordeal he endured. This is junk science at its worst."

ESC will not cure Alzheimer’s Disease:
"Writing in the Weekly Standard, lawyer, ethicist and human life advocate Wesley J. Smith reported that "Researchers have apparently known for some time that embryonic stem cells will not be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's, because as two researchers told a Senate subcommittee in May, it is a ‘whole brain disease,’ rather than a cellular disorder (such as Parkinson's)."

"Ronald D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke told the Washington Post: 'People need a fairy tale,' he said, explaining why scientists have allowed society to believe wrongly that stem cells are likely to effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease. He added 'Maybe that's unfair, but they need a story line that’s relatively simple to understand.'" (Rick Weiss. Stem Cells An Unlikely Therapy for Alzheimer's. Washington Post, June 10, 2004; Page A03)

Source: I'm With My Dad on Stem Cell Research by Michael Regan. June 21, 2004.