(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Around 764,000 people in the US have cerebral palsy (CP) and around one in 10,000 babies are born each year with this condition. CP is actually the most common motor disability in childhood, and it impacts a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Common treatments for CP include physical therapy and rehabilitation, the use of orthotic devices, assistive technologies, medications that can relax muscles and reduce unwanted movement, and in some cases, surgery. Of the many nouvelle treatments for CP, one that has received much attention in medical literature and the news alike is stem cell therapy. What do we know about this treatment so far, and how successful is it from treating CP?
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy involves replacing damaged/non-functioning cells in individuals with CP to provide support to oligodendrocytes and neurons. There are two factors that make stem cells unique from other cells: firstly, they have the ability to make copies of themselves over extended periods of time, and secondly, they can
differentiate into specific cell types. In people with CP, the corticospinal tract is damaged and, therefore, fine movements and walking are impaired. Stem cell transplantation to the corticospinal tract in the brain can aim to repair this tract to restore motor function.
How Successful Has Stem Cell Therapy Been So Far?
Around 12 clinical trials are being carried out on a global level which involve using stem cells to treat CP. Some teams are obtaining stem cells from bone marrow; others are using umbilical cord blood. Few studies have been published, but so far, one showed that children who received stem cell therapy showed greater improvements in cognitive and motor skills when compared to those who had conventional rehabilitation therapy. Although the few studies carried out show success, there are challenges up ahead – including that of producing stem cells on a large scale. Bodies such as the
FDA and Health Canada, meanwhile, will have to develop strict guidelines for the production and use of stem cells, since each cell type differs greatly in its potential uses. Finally, it will be vital to regulate clinics that offer this therapy to ensure that patients are not taken advantage of.
A Bright Future Ahead
Just a few recent studies show promising uses for stem cells in various areas. One study by researchers
at Duke University Medical Center, for instance, found that an infusion of cells from a child’s umbilical cord blood improved brain connectivity and motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Another lab study undertaken at
the Medical College of Georgia, meanwhile, showed that stem cell transplant could significantly enhance recovery in newborns with cerebral palsy. Many studies have shown great potential for this treatment, despite it being in its initial stages.
Stem cell therapy may be relatively new, but the few studies on its efficiency have shown promising results. In one study, for instance, children who received stem cell therapy improved their cognitive and motor skills more than those who had received standard treatments. Many challenges lie ahead for this therapy – including the establishment of regulations regarding the use of each type of stem cell. However, as science continues to show its efficiency at improving conditions like CP, the legal and administrative aspects of classification and legislation will hopefully advance at an appropriate pace.
