Stem Cells Help Parkinson's Patients Recover Without Surgery Or Drugs
Why Surgery Is Expensive and Risky
In one of the largest FDA approved randomized controlled studies, new Parkinson's research shows motor functions in patients with very advanced symptoms can be improved with brain surgery. The study just published in the June 3 New England Journal of Medicine reports beneficial results from deep brain stimulation (DBS), an extreme and invasive surgical procedure which until now has been one of the most effective weapons in the war on the disease. However, International Stem Cell Institute (ISCI), a leading US based organization in stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine, believes Parkinson's symptoms can be alleviated -- almost to the point of full restoration -- using placenta stem cells. Administering these stem cells, an easy and painless treatment, avoids the risks and costs of surgery. And unlike the wait for future drugs and clinical trials, stem cell treatment for Parkinson's is not years off in the future but available to Parkinson's sufferers right now.
In one of the largest FDA approved randomized controlled studies, new Parkinson's research shows motor functions in patients with very advanced symptoms can be improved with brain surgery. The study just published in the June 3 New England Journal of Medicine reports beneficial results from deep brain stimulation (DBS), an extreme and invasive surgical procedure which until now has been one of the most effective weapons in the war on the disease. However, International Stem Cell Institute (ISCI), a leading US based organization in stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine, believes Parkinson's symptoms can be alleviated -- almost to the point of full restoration -- using placenta stem cells. Administering these stem cells, an easy and painless treatment, avoids the risks and costs of surgery. And unlike the wait for future drugs and clinical trials, stem cell treatment for Parkinson's is not years off in the future but available to Parkinson's sufferers right now.
Potential Drawbacks to DBS
One of the most serious adverse effects from DBS is intracranical hemorrhaging. The risk of hemorrhage closely correlates with the number of microelectrode passes used to determine the target location, with experts claiming it's better to do more passes than less to be sure of where the electrodes are placed. "This kind of surgery requires many specialists, a Parkinson's disease expert, a surgeon very skilled in stereotactic functional neurosurgery, a radiologist to precisely locate the target, and a physiologist for microelectrode placement and reading," according to Rita Alexander, ISCI executive director. "Setting the stimulation parameters can take several hours, and more time is required for repeat evaluations to make certain the settings are correct. Clearly this procedure is very costly, risky, and can run $60,000 or more per patient. There may be negative consequences of targeting as well, including cognitive and psychological changes in patients."
One of the most serious adverse effects from DBS is intracranical hemorrhaging. The risk of hemorrhage closely correlates with the number of microelectrode passes used to determine the target location, with experts claiming it's better to do more passes than less to be sure of where the electrodes are placed. "This kind of surgery requires many specialists, a Parkinson's disease expert, a surgeon very skilled in stereotactic functional neurosurgery, a radiologist to precisely locate the target, and a physiologist for microelectrode placement and reading," according to Rita Alexander, ISCI executive director. "Setting the stimulation parameters can take several hours, and more time is required for repeat evaluations to make certain the settings are correct. Clearly this procedure is very costly, risky, and can run $60,000 or more per patient. There may be negative consequences of targeting as well, including cognitive and psychological changes in patients."
Treating Parkinson's with Stem Cells Can Stop The Shaking, Restore Movement
"Physicians have successfully treated over 3,000 patients with many serious chronic diseases and we're putting a huge focus on helping Parkinson's patients. Our procedure represents a dramatic new advance in treating the disease, we're seeing outstanding improved functions in advanced patients who can't be satisfactorily controlled with drugs or high risk surgery," says Alexander. The therapeutic results from placental adult stem cell therapy is clearly effective at relieving the symptoms, and can provide a better quality of life for those in moderate to severe stages of the disease. ISCI is currently offering Parkinson's patients the opportunity to undergo these innovative, less painful and less invasive medical treatments at a reasonable cost compared to brain surgery. "The families and individuals we work with are reporting truly amazing results," Anderson maintains. "Some patients show amazing recovery from the nonstop shaking, regaining their balance and fluidity of motion. Their overall color is better and in some cases full range of movement is being restored." Remarkably patients are recovering their ability to speak, to use handwriting and utensils, and showing decreasing problems with incontinence, swallowing and drooling.
"Physicians have successfully treated over 3,000 patients with many serious chronic diseases and we're putting a huge focus on helping Parkinson's patients. Our procedure represents a dramatic new advance in treating the disease, we're seeing outstanding improved functions in advanced patients who can't be satisfactorily controlled with drugs or high risk surgery," says Alexander. The therapeutic results from placental adult stem cell therapy is clearly effective at relieving the symptoms, and can provide a better quality of life for those in moderate to severe stages of the disease. ISCI is currently offering Parkinson's patients the opportunity to undergo these innovative, less painful and less invasive medical treatments at a reasonable cost compared to brain surgery. "The families and individuals we work with are reporting truly amazing results," Anderson maintains. "Some patients show amazing recovery from the nonstop shaking, regaining their balance and fluidity of motion. Their overall color is better and in some cases full range of movement is being restored." Remarkably patients are recovering their ability to speak, to use handwriting and utensils, and showing decreasing problems with incontinence, swallowing and drooling.
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