How Stem Cell Therapy Can Treat Muscular Dystrophy?

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a condition wherein the skeletal muscles of the body become weak and wear away with time. This group of diseases generally affect boys and was first discovered in the year 1830. There have been various attempts and methods for treating muscular dystrophy.

Stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy is a new approach that has proved to be more effective.MD has many different manifestations and the ailments differ from each other based on various conditions. The different kinds of MD and their symptoms are mentioned below:

1.      Duchene – Most common among children. Affects and weakens the muscles in a generic manner; generally affects the arms, legs and the pelvis regions and then eventually affects the entire muscle system.

2.      Becker – The symptoms are similar to Duchene muscular dystrophy, but the effect of Becker is less severe in nature and affects the muscles at a slower pace

3.      Congenital – Age of onset is at birth.It is best recognized by the general wearing down of muscles and deformities of joints

4.      Distal – symptoms start presenting at later stages of life. It affects and wears away the muscles of the forearms, hands, and legs

5.      Emery-Dreifuss – This affects the shoulders, arms and the muscles of the shin

6.      Limb-Girdle – Affects both the pelvic and the shoulder girdles

7.      Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD)–Causes weakness in the muscles of the face shoulders and arms

8.      Myotonic – This ailment affects the entire muscle system, and delayed relaxation of muscles are common (after contractions)

9.      Oculopharnyngeal – This condition affects the throat and eyelid muscles

What are the causes of MD?

Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder. It is caused by mutations in the genes responsible for healthy muscle structure and function medical institutes like NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute have figured out a treatment other than the conventional methods.

Treatment for MD – Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells are the cells that the body develops during the early stages of embryonic development. Therefore, stem cells have the ability to regenerate and form anybody cell. Regeneration of adult muscle cells is possible only due to the presence of satellite cells.

They are believed to be the kind of cell that can be associated with the regeneration of skeletal muscles. Furthermore, stem cell therapy includes secretion of cytokines and increase the supply of oxygen to the damaged areas, helping it to heal. These are the reasons for which stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy is preferred as the appropriate mode of treatment.

Even though there are many different approaches to treatment, but NeuroGen BSI and other renowned medical institutes are opting for stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy.