Is motor neuron disease stem cell treatment effective and reliable?

Motor neuron cells are responsible for transmitting the messages for voluntary movements from the brain, through the spinal cord, and finally to the nerves ending in the muscles of the targeted part of the body. In case, the motor neuron cellstend to malfunction or stop functioning altogether, it can have severely debilitating effects on various essential functions of the body.

What is a motor neuron disease?

Involuntary movements, such as breathing, along with a host of voluntary movements, such as talking, swallowing, gesturing with the hands, etc. are affected by the motor neuron disease. This disease is the result of damage caused to the nerve cells due to various sorts of neurological disorders.

Types of motor neuron disease include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), post-polio syndrome, along with progressive forms of muscular atrophy and bulbar palsy.

Although conventional treatment methods have had some form of success in helping the patient to cope with the disabling condition, motor neuron disease treatment using stem cell therapy has shown immense potential as an ideal combinational therapy.

How can you identify the symptoms of motor neuron disease?

The symptoms seen in motor neuron disease begin to worsen as the disease progresses with time. The conditionsare usually classified into three stages, namely:

·         Initial stage – The symptoms begin to display faintly.

·         Advanced stage –Several functions and parts of the body begin to malfunction. Painful weakening and frequent spasms in the muscles, along with difficulty in talking, swallowing, walking, and balancing which are also clearly noticeable.

·         End stage –Increasing body paralysis and shortness of breath.

How is motor neuron disease treated?

There are several types of conventional assistive therapies that have been marginally successful in helping the patients and their families to cope with the disabling effects of motor neuron disease.

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, diet, etc. can help the patients adapt to the disabilities to acertain extent.

Stem cell treatment for motor neuron disease has shown better results. It helps to revive the malfunctioning nerve cells and repair the damaged nerve tissues. Stem cells can be easily sourced from the bone-marrow of the patients.

Stem cells have the ability to stimulate the renewal of motor neuron functioning effectively. Thus, motor neuron disease treatment using stem cells helps to improve the condition of the patients.