
WHY SHOULD YOU OPT FOR STEM CELL THERAPY?
Stem cell therapy is garnering attention as a potential treatment option for several chronic ailments. Stem cells are referred to as specialized undifferentiated cells that can replicate various cell types, ranging from muscles cells to even brain cells. They are usually classified into embryonic, adult, and pluripotent stem cells.
Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Research shows that stem cell therapy can have a positive impact on the treatment of osteoarthritis. This disease is characterized by the inflammation and subsequent degeneration of the cartilage that protects the joints in the human body. Although symptoms may vary from patient to patient, stiffness and pain in joints are the most common ones. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disorder and gets severe over time.
Presently, the treatments for osteoarthritis are invasive and contain side effects. Clinical trials suggest that mesenchymal stem cells can facilitate the regeneration of chondrocytes in the case of knee osteoarthritis. Chondrocytes are the only cells found in healthy cartilage and maintain their structure and physical characteristics.
Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
In addition to orthopedic disorders, stem cell therapy also treats several neurological diseases. One such example is Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease globally. This condition involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system. As a result, there is a breakdown of coordination between the brain and the rest of the body. So far, the treatment options available for PD have been ineffective at slowing down its progression.
Stem cell therapy has shown significant promise at lowering neuron loss in PD. Currently, dental pulp stem cells from human teeth are considered to have certain qualities that make them ideal for PD treatment. For example, they have a higher proliferation rate, increased potential for colony formation, and more robust mineralization capacity. Moreover, they also secrete nerve growth factors that are critical to the repair of damaged neurons.
Stem Cell Therapy is Better than Invasive Surgeries
Studies have shown that stem cell therapy is a better treatment option than surgeries for several diseases as it regenerates the damaged tissues. In contrast, surgeries are usually quite invasive and, in some cases, even worsen the patient’s condition.
All In All
In conclusion, it could be said that stem cell therapy has proven to be a highly effective treatment option for various orthopedic and neurological disorders. As research continues to arise on this pertinent therapy, more people can benefit from it.
References
Xiao, Z., Lei, T., Liu, Y. et al. The potential therapy with dental tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in Parkinson’s disease. Stem Cell Res Ther 12, 5 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-020-01957-4.
Han YH, Kim KH, Abdi S, Kim TK. Stem cell therapy in pain medicine. Korean J Pain. 2019 Oct 1;32(4):245-255. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2019.32.4.245. PMID: 31569916; PMCID: PMC6813895.