Mesenchymal Stem Cell For Stroke Treatment

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain gets blocked due to blood clots or ruptured blood vessels. As the brain does not receive the needed oxygen and nutrients, the cells begin to die, hampering the body functionality. The best way to prevent stroke is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and immediate medical attention for treating underlying risk factors.

Symptoms

Few of the symptoms of stroke are:

• Headache accompanied, at times, with loss of consciousness
• Paralysis
• Difficulty while seeing in one or both the eyes
• Trouble speaking and understanding language
• Dizziness 
• Depression
• Pain in the limb that worsens with movement

The two main types of strokes are:

• Ischemic strokes caused by blocked and narrow arteries. 
• Hemorrhagic strokes caused by ruptured or bleeding arteries in the brain.

Stem cell-based approach is a tool for treating stroke with their therapeutic effect. The favorable effects of the autologous adult stem cells, such as neuroprotection, cell replacement, etc., along with their influence on inflammation and immune response have made them the safest and sought after treatment. For stroke cell treatment has shown high efficiency in managing the symptoms.

For stroke, stem cell treatment does not require any major operation. The adult stem cells derived from the patient’s own bone marrow (with an aspiration needle), are filtered and treated before being infused (intrathecally) back into the patient’s spinal area. With the help of the cerebrospinal fluid, they travel to the brain to induce growth factors within the damaged tissues. As the infused stem cells stimulate the damaged brain cells and induce restorative events, there is an improvement in the neurological functions. A marked functional improvement is observed in patients within days after cell treatment for stroke.

These positive effects of mesenchymal stem cells have prompted the neurosurgeons to accept them as an option for stroke treatment.

Rehabilitation

For a successful recovery after a cell treatment for stroke, the patient needs physical and emotional support to get over the trauma he/she experienced.  Therapies such as:

• Speech therapy: For communicating and language issues.  
• Physical therapy: To help the patient regain his/her limb coordination, balance, movement and to stay active.
• Occupational therapy: To develop the required abilities to carry out their daily activities, such as dressing, reading, eating, and writing.

Apart from the above-mentioned therapies, love and support from relatives and friends offer comfort to patients.

The best stem cell-based treatment is done by experienced neurosurgeons of Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute based in Mumbai. Patients from various countries come here to seek treatment for the neurological and muscular disorder. They have declared having successfully treated over 214 stroke patients and hence proved that cell treatment for stroke in India can help patients lead an independent and fulfilled life.