Parkinson's disease and development of stem cell treatment
Specialists think that Parkinson s disease stem cell will work due to the results of transplantation studies that were performed in 80-s of the last century. Four Parkinson’s patients participated in the study then. Scandinavian scientists harvested cells from their adrenal glands and transplanted stem cells into the brain. There are cells in adrenal glands that release dopamine and analogous substances. When Parkinson s disease stem cell transplantation was over, there were enhancements in the condition of participants, but they were not considerable. The effect of cell therapy was not durable too. This was the first dopamine-producing tissue transplanted into the brain.
There were other experiments too when American, Swedish, Canadian specialists tried to transplant neurons that generate dopamine. The results were diverse from slight changes to radical ones. Side effects were also observed.
Researchers continue studies to introduce stem cell practices and postpone the onset of disorder or thwart its progression. However, there are some obstacles here. For some people ethical question becomes the problem. Use of foetus raises such problems for many patients. Besides, there is little fetal tissue for stem cell treatment.
Parkinson s disease stem cell therapy offers an alternative source, where doctors can harvest cells for patients:
- It is possible to direct embryonic stem (ES) cells so that they could produce neurons that release dopamine to be transplanted into patients.
- Another variant is to generate induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from skin cells in the laboratory, and after that apply to make dopamine-releasing neurons.
Parkinson's disease stem cell treatment in UCTC
Parkinsons disease stem cell therapy in UCTC is aimed to reduction of akinesia, rigidity and tremor, improvement of mental activity, loss of autonomic disorders.
Patients report decreased depression, improved thinking, memory and intelligence. In result of our treatment sleep improves, manifestations of vegetative disturbances reduce, functioning of the internal organs such as heart, lungs, intestines normalizes. According to our statistic data, in all cases after our treatment mental state of the patient improves.