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.  

The Role of Stem Cell Therapy in Stroke Treatment

A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain leads to the death of brain cells. The two main types of stroke are: ischemic, caused by a lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, caused by internal bleeding. Strokes result in parts of the brain becoming unable to function properly.

The signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

●     Loss of movement or sensation on one side of the body

●     Difficulty understanding speech and speaking

●     Dizziness, or feeling like the world is spinning

●     Loss or dimming of vision to one side

In addition to these immediate effects, there can also be long- term medical complications such as pneumonia and loss of bladder or bowel control. These symptoms of stroke can be permanent.

Treatments like rehabilitation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, speech and language therapy are used to improve the muscle coordination, speech and cognitive functions. Complete recovery is not common but not impossible and most patients improve over time with a healthy lifestyle, various therapies, motivation and emotional support from family members and friends.

Stroke Stem Cell Treatment:

In the last few years, scientists and researchers have been attempting to develop new approaches to stroke treatment which will be able to heal the underlying brain damage that is inflicted during a stroke. One of these new approaches is stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy means using stem cells to heal disorders or conditions in the body.

A centre of stem cell research and treatment located in Mumbai, NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute is one of the places where stem cell stroke treatment can be done in India. Over 150 patients with stroke have been given stem cell therapy at the NeuroGen Hospital. Mild to significant improvements in their symptoms were observed in over 96 percent of the patients as a result of stem cell stroke treatment.

Stem cell therapy is extremely promising procedures which can absolutely help patients recover after a stroke. Stem cell stroke treatment works when the adult stem cells harvested from the bone marrow of the patient are transplanted into the brain tissue around the damaged areas. The cells then promote the restoration and regeneration of healthy brain cells, helping to bring back functionality into the damaged portions of the brain.

Many scientists and researchers now believe that stem cell therapy has huge potential for improving the quality of life of people affected by stroke.