How Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to treat Cerebral Palsy?

Stem Cell Therapy is being explored as a potential treatment for Cerebral Palsy. Though it’s still under clinical research, early results show that the treatment can be effective when combined with other therapies. Plexus offers the best stem cell therapy for Cerebral Palsy in India. Read more to find out about Cerebral Palsy and the treatment options available.

Close to 1.4 to 4 out of 1,000 children don’t get to fully experience the most wonderful phase of life — childhood. These children are affected by Cerebral Palsy (CP), a common developmental condition. While for other children, basic activities such as speaking, eating, and walking help them explore the world around them, for children with Cerebral Palsy, these simple bodily movements are a daily struggle.

Though there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy yet, physiotherapy and medication help patients lead a partially normal life. However, clinical trials for a promising treatment — Stem Cell Therapy — are in full swing. But before we dive deep into this, let’s first understand more about Cerebral Palsy.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition that affects a fetus’s developing brain during the gestation period or up to two years after birth. It’s a group of disorders that impair bodily movements, speaking, eating, and eye movement. A child with CP usually exhibits the following:

• Delayed development of motor skills such as rolling over, sitting up, or crawling
• Extreme muscle tones, such as being too floppy or too stiff
• Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes
• Lack of muscle coordination
• Tremors or involuntary movements
• Excessive drooling and problems with swallowing
• Difficulty in walking
• Neurological problems including seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness

Although in the majority of cases, the cause of CP is unknown, abnormal brain development or injury to the brain during or after pregnancy are some common causes. Some other possible reasons for CP include:

• Lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery
• Gene mutations 
• Severe jaundice during infancy 
• Brain infections, such as Encephalitis and Meningitis
• Bleeding in the brain
• Head injuries 

What is Stem Cell Therapy and how can it treat Cerebral Palsy?

Stem Cell Therapy is a regenerative treatment that involves the replacement of damaged cells with stem cells. Stem cells are transplanted into the damaged part of the body where they gradually modify themselves into specialized cells to repair the damage. This non-invasive treatment is used to treat many disorders and diseases including autism, dementia, motor neuron diseases, and Parkinson's.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy using this therapy involves the injection of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (extracted from the bone marrow) into the patient’s spinal column either intravenously or intrathecally. The introduced stem cells usually develop into nerve cells, replace the damaged cells, and build connections with other cells. CP patients can experience reduced symptoms once new cells learn to deliver messages that control muscle movement. 

Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells are known to be universal donor cells that the body doesn’t immediately reject as foreign. These stem cells are also known to:

• Repair damaged nervous tissue in both brain and spinal cord
• Promote neuronal growth
• Promote the growth of new blood vessels
• Activate neurogenesis and astrogliosis
• Decrease programmed cell death

Research on the efficacy of this treatment is still in its early stage, but preliminary studies have generated positive results. One published study found that patients treated with Stem Cell Therapy along with medication and rehabilitation performed better on cognitive and motor assessments in comparison to a combination of other treatments. Some animal studies also found that stem cells could reduce symptoms of CP and brain damage.

Along with the research on mesenchymal stem cells, studies are also trying to assess the effectiveness of different stem cells on the treatment of CP. Some of the other cells being tested are: 

• Natural stem cells 
• Induced pluripotent stem cells 
• Umbilical cord stem cells 

Based on the current understanding of this matter, mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical cord cells seem to be the most promising solutions for CP patients because:

• They can be used to treat all patients
• The cells can be administered several times over the course of several days

At this juncture, there isn’t enough evidence to suggest that Stem Cell Therapy alone can treat Cerebral Palsy. However, if supported by a combination of other treatments such as physiotherapy and medication, children around the world can discover their full potential.

Plexus takes an all-inclusive approach to help patients with CP be more independent in their daily lives. Our approach to CP involves providing Stem Cell Therapy along with an intensive rehabilitation program that comprises occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and language therapy. Although we aim to provide the best-in-class treatments for CP, the type of treatment depends entirely on the type and severity of the disorder. We at Plexus, give CP patients the best care possible. Contact us today to learn more about the treatments available at Plexus, and speak to one of our experts about the risks and benefits of Stem Cell Therapy in Cerebral Palsy.