Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders

The incidences of neurological diseases are on the rise because of two reasons. One is that the average age of people in the developed countries has increased substantially. The second is the improvement in the diagnostic tools that can diagnose and identify the neurological diseases. Stem cell therapy has great potential for treating all kinds of disorders of the brain. These include the late-onset disorders such as Parkinson’s, or the earlier or birth neurological disorders like Cerebral Palsy.

Rationale for Stem Cell Therapy

Earlier stem cells were used in treating patients who had blood cancer; bone marrow stem cell transplantation for replenishment of the body would be done with cells that had the capability to refill the healthy pool of blood forming cells, soon after transplantation. Stem cells have the ability to manufacture different type of blood cells of the body. The therapy would be quite simple. All the cancerous cells of the blood would be removed and then replaced with the healthy ones.

The same regenerative approach extends further while treating the neurological diseases. Stem cells are transplanted into the patient’s body where they can replenish the pool of healthy neural cells. For instance, the dopamine cells found in the brain are lost during the course of a neurological disease and stem cell therapy supplies these cells in their healthier forms. Stem cells have the unique self-renewal and self-replicating properties and are transplanted for growing a new brain and neural cells in the brain for a lifetime.

Disorders of the spinal cord, PNS, CNS, and brain, have some common abnormalities. These include progressive deterioration, neural dysfunction and great loss of the neural cell. Stem cells address all these conditions. Stem cell therapy and transplantation help in Neuroprotection, immuno-modulation and regeneration, and growth of the damaged neural tissues.

Assisted/Supportive Therapeutic Role Played By the Stem Cells

Stem cells integrate with the brain cells when transplanted into the patient’s body. They also restore the functional ability of the degenerated brain tissues. Cells derived from the bone marrow not only supply new brain cells, but they also support the other cells of the central nervous system. For instance, doctors use stem cells for treating multiple sclerosis (a neurological disorder) as it provides two benefits to the patient. The transplanted stem cells support both recovery and survival of the older and damaged neurons, and reduce inflammation.

The Strategies of Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cells can be transplanted through the below given ways:

1. They can be transplanted directly into the brain or can be infused via the blood circulation
2. They can be mobilized through the growth factors (cytokines) in-vivo, inside the brain
3. They can be delivered via stem cell transplantation
4. They can be bio-engineered in the lab for addressing the genetic defect
5. They can be combined with other bio-materials

NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute offers stem cell treatment for Cerebral Palsy and other neurological conditions. The expert healthcare practitioners at the institute also combine the cellular therapy with a rehabilitation program that also provides for allied therapies like Yoga, Dance and Music, Speech, Occupational and other therapies.

The author is an expert in the field of stem cell research & therapy. The writer has a flair for writing and she keeps on writing various articles and blogs related to industry.