Cell Therapy For The Treatment Of Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability is recognized in patients having both intellectual and adaptive functioning issues. It is assessed by a doctor through standardized IQ testing. An IQ score of 70 - 75 indicates the patient as being intellectually disabled. The scores can vary considerably or may also not accurately reflect his/her overall intellectual functioning. There are many degrees of intellectual disability ranging from mild to profound.

The areas of functioning impaired due to intellectual disability are:

• Conceptual: Inability to read, write, reason, remember, attention deficit
• Social: Lack of communication skill, empathy, make friends, follow rules
  

Causes 

Some of the known causes of intellectual disability are:

• Genetic conditions: Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome  
• Problems during pregnancy: Interference with fetal brain development due to excessive alcohol or drug use, and infections
• Problems during childbirth: Occurs when the baby’s brain is deprived of fresh oxygen supply or if he/she is born extremely premature
• Illness or injury: Infections like measles or meningitis can lead to intellectual disability in the newborn baby. A head injury or a near-drowning incident or exposure to toxins such as lead also lead to intellectual disability.
• Signs of intellectual disability

Given below are some of the common signs of intellectual disability:

• Late in reaching the motor milestone like sitting, crawling, rolling over, walking
• Having trouble while talking
• Slow to learn things like dressing, tying a shoelace, eating  
• Find difficult to remember things
• Behaviour problems such as tantrums
• Difficulty with logical thinking
• Health problems that include anxiety, seizures, vision and hearing issues

Intellectual Disability is a non-progressive condition that affects a person’s cognition, behaviour, and social skills. Although there is no complete cure for this condition, still cell therapy for intellectual disability focuses on the symptoms and addressing its core neurological condition. To reverse the damage caused to the brain, intellectual disability treatment, cell treatment is a neuro-restorative therapy which benefits patients in gaining the needed skills.

Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are approved for intellectual disability treatment.  They are easily collected from the patient’s own bone marrow and have the capability to multiply into numerous cells. The treatment procedure is accomplished in Neurogen hospital in just three easy steps.

• The bone marrow is extracted with the help of an aspiration needle from the patient’s own hip bone.
• The collected marrow tissue undergoes a filtration process to separate the stem cells.
• The acquired stem cells are intrathecally introduced in the spinal area.

Once inside the body, these stem cells migrate to the damaged areas of the brain to differentiate into neurons, adopt the properties of the host cells, and accelerate the neurorestorative processes.  Thus cell therapy for intellectual disability has proved to be beneficial in minimizing the severity of the disorder.

The treatment with the bone marrow-derived stem cells in combination with rehabilitation therapies or conventional treatment such as speech therapy and occupational therapy are aimed towards improving the symptoms of intellectual disability.  The objective is to reduce the level of impairment while enhancing the functional ability of the individual.

Muscular Dystrophy Cell Treatment For Repair Of Weak Muscles

Muscular dystrophy is an assemblage of diseases that damage and gradually weaken the body muscles rendering the person helpless. The damages sets in due to the lack of a protein called dystrophin, essential for normal muscle and motor functions. The absence of dystrophin causes problems while walking, swallowing, posture, and limb coordination. Muscular dystrophy treatment involving autologous stem cells, can maintain the balance of dystrophin and strengthen the musculoskeletal muscles to produce all the required movements of the body. 

The prognosis for muscular dystrophy is based on the severity of the symptom. Most individuals lose the ability to walk and become totally dependent on supportive devices and wheelchair to move about. Although there is no known cure for muscular dystrophy, still early diagnosis and certain therapies may help in reducing the dearth of the symptoms.

Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is common among children.  The symptoms include:

• Irregular walking gait
• Loss of reflexes
• Difficulty standing up from sitting or sleeping position
• Poor posture
• Bone fragility
• Abnormal curvature of your spine (scoliosis)
• Intellectual impairment
• Difficulties while swallowing and breathing

If the individuals with muscular dystrophy are not provided with apt treatment, at an early stage, they may get confined to a wheelchair before they enter teenage. For muscular dystrophy cell treatment is a promising treatment option to rebuild the waning muscle and also curb further musculoskeletal deterioration.

Stem Cell-Based Therapies

Stem cells are specialized body cells found in tissues (like bone marrow) and can proliferate and replicate themselves for a long period of time. For muscular dystrophy, cell treatment is a stem cell-based therapy, responsible for the development of muscle tissues. Stem cells sourced from the patient’s own bone marrow have these properties:

• They are capable of dividing and self-renewal for a long time
• They can give rise to specialized or any cell type

Therapies with stem cells restore the skeletal muscle deficiency in individuals with muscular dystrophy by regenerating new muscle fibers. 

For muscular dystrophy treatment, the mesenchymal stem cells derived from the patient’s own bone marrow is processed in the fully equipped GLP (Good Lab Practice) & GMP (Good Medical Practice) laboratory of the Neurogen hospital. The treated stem cells are injected into the muscles using a very thin needle.

The individuals are enrolled in rehabilitation therapies, post cell therapy, for better results.

Cell Therapy - The Best Treatment For Autism

Autism is a spectrum of disorders marked with the inabilities to maintain normal communication and social interactions. It is associated with symptoms of self-stimulatory or repetitive behaviors, and also loss of interests. When these challenges interfere with a child’s normal growth, diagnosis at an autism treatment center is essential. 

Autism Related Conditions

Children with autism exhibit a large spectrum of disorders. These may include attention disorders, sensory or regulatory conditions, etc., which involve a number of different problems, including:

• A tendency to avoid interaction
• Limited eye contact 
• Failure to develop pretend play
• Problems following simple directions
• Do not point to show things
• Poor coordination
• Echolalia or repeating what has been said
• Hates being hugged or touched

At the autism treatment center, a child with autism receives a diagnosis based on the behaviors and symptoms he/she shows. As autism is said to be a spectrum of disorders, each child is diagnosed with a unique pattern of development and functioning.  

What causes autism?

Autism is the result of a neurologic abnormality, still findings points to:

•  Genetic defect: A number of different genes when combined, increase the risk of the child getting autism. When having one child with autism, the risk of having another with autism is low. 
• Medical condition: Untreated metabolic disorders, congenital infections (rubella), genetic disorders (X syndrome), underdeveloped brain (cerebral palsy and autism) or neurologic disorders acquired before or after birth. 

Environmental factors and exposures toxins may result in an increased risk of autism.

Cell Therapy To Combat Autism

Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells derived from marrow tissue show great therapeutic potential in cell treatment. They have the potential to multiply and differentiate into any cell type while also adapting their properties. The ability to differentiate helps in replacing the dead cells of the tissue, healing the injury and reconstructing the lost functionality.   

To receive the best autism treatment in India, people from other continents flock to NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute to meet Dr. Alok Sharma and discuss the treatment options to treat their children or kins. The fame of Dr. Sharma has spread throughout the world for his expertise in treating autism with stem cells. An expert neurosurgeon, he along with his team of doctors, nurses and therapists provide comprehensive care for individuals with spinal cord injuries, muscular diseases, and neurological disorders. From diagnosis to treatment and recovery, the hospital provides all facilities under one roof.   

Therapy with marrow-derived autologous stem cells is the best autism treatment in India. These cells do not invoke any risk of rejection in the body as compared to the allogeneic (donated) stem cells.

Muscular Dystrophy Treatment at Neurogen Hospital

Muscular dystrophy is a myriad of progressive diseases that result in weakness and loss of muscle mass. It is caused due to genes
mutations which interfere with the production of ‘dystrophin’, a protein needed to build healthy muscle.
There is no complete cure for muscular dystrophy, but with cell therapy for muscular dystrophy, there is a possibility of managing
the symptoms and slowing down the muscle deterioration. 

The mutation of the genes and loss of dystrophin leads to a sequence of dysfunctional developments causing severe and progressive
muscle-wasting skeletal muscles and heart muscles. These skeletal muscles are responsible for voluntary body movements. As they
weaken people with muscular dystrophy lose their ability to walk or do manual work. They experience muscle spasms (twitches or cramps)
that are painful and make fine muscle control more difficult. If the patients do not receive treatment, they may develop slack muscle
and an enlarged heart with chances of heart failure.

Signs and Symptoms 

• Loss of balance resulting in frequent falls

• Difficulty when rising from a lying or sitting position

• Unable to run or jump

• Walk with a waddling gait

• Walk on the toes

• Enlarged calf muscles

• Frequent muscle pain 

• Muscle stiffness

• Learning disabilities

Muscular dystrophy treatment with stem cells is done at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute by renowned surgeons guided by Dr. Alok Sharma.
With years of experience and expertise, Dr. Alok Sharma is amongst the top-ranked neurosurgeon in India. Holding a supreme position in NGBSI,
his area of specialization is neurosurgery with stem cells. 

The treatment for muscular dystrophy involves the use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties of stem cells are considered as a good treatment option for muscular dystrophy.  The doctor at the hospital confirms that cell therapy for muscular dystrophy has the potential to create muscle protein and also helps to halt the progressive muscle deterioration. For treating the patients, the doctors remove the bone marrow from the hip bone of the patient. The marrow tissue is subjected to a stem cell separation procedure at their fully equipped GPL and GMP laboratory. The separated useful stem cells are administered into the muscles points using a thin needle.

The healthy stem cells, transplanted into the muscles, generate healthy cells into the diseased muscle. They substantially improve the ability of the muscles by replenishing the weak cell pool, and also provide a continuous generation of healthy stem cells. Thus, muscular dystrophy treatment with mesenchymal stem cells repairs the muscle without fear of cell rejection and tumor formation.

Successful cell therapy for muscular dystrophy should be done before the muscle cells get completely depleted.

Autologous Cell Transplant for People with Stroke

A stroke is a ‘brain attack’ which occurs if the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. The brain cells begin to die as they are deprived
of fresh oxygen supply. As they die, their ability to control the person’s memory and muscle movement get completely lost. The level of
stroke severity depends on the area and the extent of brain damage. Thus, stroke is a neurological disorder caused by the loss of neurons
or glial cells of the brain. Cell treatment for stroke is an innovative therapy to treat people with their own stem cells. 

Types of Stroke

Haemorrhagic stroke

A haemorrhagic stroke occur when weak blood vessels burst to spill blood. This results in the swelling and damage of the tissue and cells. 

Ischemic Stroke

If the blood vessels become narrow or get by a blood clot (ischemic), it causes reduced fresh blood supply to the brain.  

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) 

A transient ischemic attack is just like a stroke. It has similar symptoms but lasts only for a short period. This ‘mini-stroke’ causes no permanent
damage but acts as a warning for a serious stroke.

Cell treatment for stroke helps to generate new neurons and glia in patients suffering from a stroke. Stem cell-based therapy at
NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute is accomplished using mesenchymal stem cells to treat a variety of damaged brain tissues.
Easily accessible in the marrow tissue, these cells are exceedingly suitable for autologous cell-based therapies. As they are derived
from the patient’s own body (autologous), they do not face issues like rejection while merging with other stem cells.  

Thus, for stroke cell treatment has helped in preventing the death of brain cells by promoting regeneration and repair of
defective tissues, nerve, and cells.  

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells involves just three simple steps:

• Collecting the marrow from the hip bone of the patient
• Purifying and filtering the cells through ‘density gradient centrifugation’ procedure
• Infusion of the filtered stem cells after being diluted in CSF 

At the hospital, for people with stroke cell treatment is an intrathecal administration of mesenchymal stem cells in the spinal area.

When infused in the body, these cells migrate through the vertebral canal to reach the site of injured brain tissue.
They begin their healing process to stop further tissue deterioration and to generate new cells to replace the dead ones. As the tissue
gets healed the brain regains its lost plasticity.

Thus, cell treatment for stroke is a promising way of promoting the interest of people towards regenerative medicine

Cell Therapy in India

Human beings are either born healthy and remain healthy throughout their lives. Nevertheless, some are born with neurological disorders
and muscular disorders and other degenerative disorders that at times are severe and life threatening. Cell therapy is the safest treatment
option for a number of disorders using stem cells from various sources procured from the bone marrow. 

Degenerative disorders, like neuromuscular disorders, occur due to gene mutilation or from damage to the brain and muscle cells.
These disorders have a slow onset but can lifelong and painful disrupting the social life of the person. Stem cells are defined by their
ability to differentiate into multiple host cells and to self-renew. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells are highly proliferative,
and can inexhaustibly multiply into numerous mature cells. Hence, cell therapy in India has been proposed as a viable alternative for
treating degenerating disorders.  

Some of the best qualities of stem cells essential for cell therapy:

• The capacity of proliferation and endless multiplication.
• The ability to differentiation into any cell type or tissue
• The capability to anchor into the damaged tissue after transplant.
• The capability to function well for a long duration 
• They are not rejected by the body and create no side effects
• Cell treatment is safe and is done without having the patient go under the knife
• Cell therapy in India assures improvement in the brain plasticity to obtain positive results.

Mesenchymal stem cells are categorized as adult stem cell population that can be easily obtained from the bone marrow.
They can multiply, differentiation and provide an inexhaustible source of neurons for cell replacement. In addition to their cell
replacement role, mesenchymal stem cells provide the protective paracrine effect. This paracrine effects control the further deterioration of the diseased tissues, regenerate the surviving injured cells and promote survival. 

Some of the disorders treated at Neurogen hospital are 

• Autism, 
• Muscular dystrophy 
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Cerebral palsy
• Dementia
• Motor neuron disease
• Intellectual disability

There has been a rapid growth for cell therapy in India and could one day replace the painstakingly expensive and prolonged ineffective conventional therapy for treating a multitude of neurological and muscular disorders.

Facts About Cell Therapy For Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord is a bundle of nerves, made up of millions of nerve cells that carries the needed nerve reflexes, to and fro, from the brain to various
parts of the body. The brain and the spinal cord together form the central nervous system. Damage to the spine or a spinal cord injury affects
the normal motor and sensory skills and also harm the nerves that control involuntary functions, like blood pressure and temperature sensory
regulation. Traumatic injury to the vertebra needs immediate spinal cord injury treatment.  

The spinal cord begins from the base of the brain (foramen magnum), runs down the middle of the back, to end at the first or second lumbar
vertebrae just near the waist. It is encased by the hard vertebrae of the spinal column and consists of a spinal motor and sensory nerve fibers.
An injury to the spinal cord ends in an inability to move, stand, sit, run, etc.  

For a spinal cord injury, cell treatment is a natural way of treating the patient with his own (autologous) bone marrow-derived cells.
The recovery of the patient depends on the severity of the injury. Those with complete spinal cord injury, there is a total lack of sensory
and motor function. This needs rigorous rehabilitation therapies to regain some of the lost function below the level of injury. However,
in an incomplete injury, the ability of the spinal cord to transmit messages from the brain to the parts of the body is not completely lost.
After spinal cord injury treatment with stem cells, the patient shows signs of improvement within a few months and is able to move
independently or with assistive devices.  

Cell therapy is the transplantation of treated stem cells to replace/repair damaged cells and tissue. With the ability to differentiate into
multiple types of cells, mesenchymal stem cells derived from the patient’s bone marrow is a preferred stem type used for treating patients
with spinal cord injuries. 

At Neurogen hospital, the treatment protocol for spinal cord injury treatment does not involve major surgery. It is just the extraction of the
bone marrow from the patient's own hip bone; the separation of the tissue using density gradient centrifugation procedure, and the infusion
of the treated stem cells into the spinal area of the patient. 

For spinal cord injury cell treatment and various rehabilitation programs that include occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc., are also prescribed by the doctors.