Stem Cell Therapy as a Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

 Parkinson’s disease is a neuro-degenerative condition that affects about one in every 100 people above the age of 60. It impacts movement and overall muscle function and also has psychiatric symptoms like hallucinations. While there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, there is a growing interest in stem cell therapy as a way to slow disease progression and enhance the patient’s lifestyle abilities.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neuro-degenerative conditions in the world. It primarily damages the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are often hard to notice at first. These may include minor tremors in the hand, difficulty writing, muscle stiffness, loss of the ability to blink or smile, slurred or softened speech, and so on. Treatment can ease the symptoms, improve physical and neurological function, and enable a more independent lifestyle. 

Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease

If you are above the age of 60 and have been experiencing symptoms like hand tremors or facial twitches, it is important to consult a doctor right away. While there is no specific test for Parkinson’s, the doctor can make a diagnosis based on a review of your symptoms and your medical history, as well as some additional tests to eliminate other diseases that might be causing the symptoms. Typically, you will be recommended to a neurologist who will conduct a variety of tests, including:

• Imaging tests like an MRI or a CT scan to detect scarring or other damage in the brain

• Blood work to detect liver damage or abnormal thyroid levels

• PET scan to detect low levels of dopamine in the brain

It may take time to get a confirmed diagnosis, and your doctor may opt to monitor your symptoms over several days.

Stem Cell Therapy as a Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

Currently, there is no cure available for Parkinson’s disease. Regenerative rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy are the main components of a typical Parkinson’s disease treatment plan. The advantage is that the disease is typically slow in progress, allowing the patient to retain high degrees of functionality over several years.

Parkinson’s disease happens because of a deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, the cause of which is unknown. In this context, Stem Cell Therapy has shown promising results in reversing the damage to the nerve cells and potentially halting the disease progression. It can also reduce the many side effects that come along with Parkinson’s disease medication.

What Stem Cell Therapy Involves?

Stem cells, essentially, are cells that have not yet specialized into cells of a specific type, such as lung, or heart cells. Stem cells possess two unique abilities—they can multiply and make copies of themselves, and they can take on the nature of other cell types. This self-replicating ability means that the supply of stem cells is theoretically limitless. Scientists can thus collect as many stem cells as they need and transform them into other cell types, i.e., once they know the relevant factors that can induce the change. Stem cells have demonstrated the ability to differentiate into dopamine neurons, which enable control over voluntary and involuntary movement in the brain. 

At Plexus, patients receive Stem Cell Therapy from autologous mononuclear cells, which are derived from their own bone marrow or blood. This is an easier procedure than looking for a cell donor, considerably reduces the risk of infection arising from injecting cells from a foreign source, and also avoids the ethical implications of harvesting stem cells from elsewhere. For autologous Stem Cell Therapy, the neurorehabilitation center will first collect a sample from the patient’s body and then use isolated sample cells for the procedure following a quality check. Patients can go home the same day, and the healthcare team will keep a close check for any side effects.

Research on Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Studies have demonstrated that Stem Cell Therapy is effective in slowing Parkinson’s disease progression. Trials in which stem cells were converted into dopamine-producing neurons have been shown to enhance symptom control and decrease ‘off time’ (periods during which symptoms are not controlled properly despite the patient being on medication). Studies so far have also indicated that the treatment is safe, with no adverse side effects. Stem Cell Therapy also has potential in terms of studying the physiology of Parkinson’s disease better and testing new molecular treatments. While there remain challenges to overcome, such as how to generate more durable cells that can survive in the brain in the desired quality and quantity, new frontiers are being explored everyday. 

Final words

Living with Parkinson’s Disease can be challenging, and it is essential to get started on the best possible treatment plan so that symptoms can be alleviated to the maximum effect. Stem Cell Therapy has shown promising results in terms of reversing the dopamine deficiency in the brain and showing long-term benefit on neural activity. If you are a Parkinson’s disease patient, consult your doctor about Stem Cell Therapy and visit a neuro-rehabilitation center like Plexus to know more about how it can change your life.