Cerebral palsy is a collection of disorders that occur due to the abnormality of the brain. This usually happens to a child in the womb or can arise at any time during the first 2 years after birth. CP affects the functions of the brain and the nerves that manage the intellect, sight, hearing and movement.
Some of the most common reasons for CP to arise are head injury, hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and maternal infections such as rubella, brain bleeding, brain infection, and severe jaundice. Cerebral palsy can be categorised as spastic, ataxic, dyskinetic, hypotonic, etc.
Parents of kids diagnosed with severe cerebral disabilities, witnesses significantly limited functions in their daily routine. They must visit well-known therapists to know about the conditions and the treatments that may bring about a significant improvement in the lives of their children. Stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy can treat various other conditions that affect the brain.
Can Cerebral Palsy Be Treated With Stem Cells?
Stem cells, (may they be adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells), have the ability to develop into new cells to displace or to repair the damaged or the dead tissues. As cerebral palsy is a complex condition found mainly in children, easy and painless treatment is voted for. Stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy can help in replacing the injured or affected brain cells with healthy stem cells bringing about progressive changes.
Mesenchymal stem cells, derived from the umbilical cord and bone marrow, are known to secrete molecules with trophic factors. The Trophic factors of the mesenchymal stem cells are known to stimulate repair of the damaged nervous tissues, both in the brain and the spinal cord. Stem cells have the neurotrophic factors that encourage neuronal growth and astroglial activation, that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, encourage synaptic connections, decrease the ratio of cell death, regulate microglial activation, etc.
Studies reveal that mesenchymal stem cell when injected into the body, travel to the brain and help to repair the damaged and worn out tissues after stroke or traumatic brain accident. The cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells are able to provide treatment not only to those who saved their own cord blood at birth but also to other patients awaiting treatment. Thus, these cells are effective in improving the lives of children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders. Improvement has been observed, in cerebral palsy patients, after being treated with mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow too.
Early treatment helps to prevent complications! Parents must be on the lookout for symptoms like communication disability, seizures, visual difficulties, lack of attention, etc., which need immediate attention.
