Stem Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons within the brain area called “substantia nigra”. It largely impairs the central nervous system, resulting in involuntary body movements. In many clinical trials, stem cell therapy has been shown to have healing effects for patients suffering from the disease. 

 

For instance, stem cells used to treat Parkinson’s disease:

1. Improve motor functions.
2. Reduce neurodegeneration.
3. Provide neuroprotection.
4. Modulate the immune system.
5. Slow down the progression of the disease.

 

This article discusses the causes of Parkinson’s, how it can be prevented, various treatment options, and their efficacy in managing symptoms within the patients. 

Causes and consequences of the disease

Parkinson’s is the result of a combination of several factors, although the exact cause of the disease is still being explored. The condition is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-inducing neurons, and alpha-synuclein spread within the brain. 

Parkinson’s disorder is more common in men than women. Major factors that contribute to the disease are:

• age
• gene mutations
• environmental factors 
• head injuries

Symptoms and the severity of the disease may differ from person to person; however, some common signs and consequences of Parkinson’s are:

1. Involuntary tremors in limbs, hands, and fingers.
2. Muscle stiffness or limited range of motion.
3. Slowed movement.
4. Impaired postures and balancing issues.
5. Impaired voluntary movements like blinking and smiling.
6. Impaired speech.
7. Psychological and cognitive problems like anxiety, insomnia, depression and forgetfulness.

How can Parkinson’s be prevented?

Parkinson’s is an age-related disorder with no medically proven prevention measures to delay or avoid the disease onset. However, a few lifestyle changes may have some effect on preventing the disorder. For instance:

1. A regular workout routine can help prevent a lot of diseases, including PD.
2. Opting for healthy diet options can also have a significant impact on promoting neuron growth and protecting them from damage.
3. Exposure to hazardous chemicals can expedite the onset of the disease; hence, avoiding these exposures can decrease the risks.
4. Sleeping adequately also plays an important role in delaying PD and many other risk factors.
5. Avoiding head injuries reduces the risk of developing PD.

Types of treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Several treatment types are available for managing disease symptoms and delaying its progression. To evaluate what Parkinson’s treatment best suits the patient’s needs depends on the following factors:

• the severity of the disorder;
• age and health condition of the patient;
• symptoms being experienced by the patient;
• patient’s personal preference.

 Some common treatment types for Parkinson’s include:

1. Medications to increase dopamine levels and reduce tremors.
2. Deep brain stimulation for improved tremors, stiffness, and other symptoms.
3. Physical therapy to improve mobility and balance.
4. Speech therapy to promote communication and swallowing difficulties.
5. Occupational therapy for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

What is the difficulty in managing Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder that worsens over time, making managing a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms challenging. PD tends to affect each individual differently, so an effective treatment approach must be personalized, which can be very exorbitant. 

At the same time, the side effects of medications and the disease’s emotional and psychological effects are other major factors that make Parkinson’s hard to manage.

Treatment based on stem cells: is it helpful?

Several clinical studies have shown stem cells to be the most promising side-effect-free Parkinson’s treatment.

Stem cells for Parkinson’s help manage a range of symptoms by:

• Reducing neurodegeneration. Stem cells heal, repair and regenerate brain tissues and dopamine-inducing neurons. By inducing neuroregeneration, the therapy helps relieve motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and bradykinesia.

• Releasing growth factors. These cells secrete growth factors to provide trophic support to neurons, slowing neuron death and disease progression.

• Reducing inflammation. Stem cells for Parkinson’s help reduce brain inflammations, which contribute to the development, and thus slow down symptoms’ progression.

What results can be expected?

In preclinical trials and research models, stem cell treatment for PD has shown significant improvements and benefits in the following areas:

• Improving motor functions. Stem cell in Parkinson’s disease improves the motor functions of the patients by regenerating dopamine-producing neurons, providing trophic support to neurons, and alleviating brain inflammations.
• Alternative to medicines. Stem cells reduce the need to use medications and their side effects on the patients.
• Improved quality of life. Stem cell treatment improves a patient’s life quality by alleviating motor symptoms and overall body functions.

Final thoughts

Parkinson’s is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder caused by the death of neurons and the resulting lack of dopamine they produce in the brain. Its symptoms worsen over time. Conventional therapies and medications only help manage the condition; however, stem cells for Parkinson’s have shown remarkable outcomes in improving motor symptoms, as well as slowing down disease progression. 

Do you believe that in the future this method will be able to solve the problem of this disorder for a large number of patients? And would you be willing to try cell-based therapy?