Do umbilical cord stem cells help in cerebral palsy?

Question

Hello doctor,

My son has cerebral palsy, and we are exploring stem cell therapy for controlling spasticity. Some centers abroad offer umbilical cord stem cells for neurological repair. Since he has a history of seizures, we are proceeding cautiously.

Do these treatments provide long-term benefits for the brain, or are they only temporary?
Are there any safe programs available, or are all options still in trial stages?
What risks should we be aware of, particularly with immune rejection?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Stem cell therapy (which involves using stem cells to repair or replace damaged tissues or cells in the body) is a groundbreaking treatment with great potential in the medical field. By using the body’s own cells or those of a donor, stem cell therapy may help alleviate symptoms or even improve conditions associated with cerebral palsy, or CP (a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, coordination, and muscle control due to brain damage occurring during or shortly after birth).

Stem cell transplantation is a regenerative therapy that can replace damaged and non-functional cells in the brains of CP patients, as well as support the remaining neurons and oligodendrocytes (cells in the brain and spinal cord that create a protective covering called myelin around nerve fibers). There are many types of stem cells, each with different characteristics.

In particular, mononuclear cells from cord blood (UCB-MNCs) and mesenchymal stem cells from cord tissue (UCT-MSCs) have been shown to be safe and effective therapies.

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, stem cell therapy can help improve a child’s ability to move and communicate.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.