ALS can be a devastating disease, both for the people who have the diagnosis and for loved ones who must watch the disease progress. While there is no cure for the disease, many ALS patients have been able to slow or stop their condition from progressing by getting treatment at a stem cell clinic.
Keep reading to learn more about how stem cell therapy works to treat ALS and restore quality of life, as well as the safety and efficacy of this groundbreaking treatment.
What is ALS?
ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a decline in motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. This reduction in motor neurons means the brain can no longer send signals to muscles in the body, thereby limiting muscle movement.
Early-stage ALS typically starts with mild symptoms such as weakness and muscle stiffness, but as the disease progresses, patients may experience more severe symptoms such as:
- Loss of motor functions
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Paralysis
- Impaired speech
The exact cause of ALS is unknown and conventional treatment is focused on managing symptoms and helping patients cope with the disease.
Mechanism of Stem Cell Therapy in ALS
While there are no cures for the disease, one of the best ALS treatment options is treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with stem cells.
Stem cell therapy can use different sources of stem cells, but clinics like Swiss Medica use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat ALS. This type of stem cell is a safe, effective and ethical treatment option.
MSCs can differentiate into brain cells and have self-renewal properties. When administered to a patient, MSCs target the site of damaged brain tissue and promote the growth of new neurons, restoring the loss of motor neurons in ALS patients.
MSCs also release neurotrophic growth factors and cytokines that aid in neuroprotection and immunomodulation. Stem cell therapy also reduces inflammation in the central nervous system, helping to restore damaged tissues.
What are the Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for ALS Patients
Stem cell therapy can prevent further loss of motor neurons, ultimately stopping disease progression and sometimes even resulting in regression. Animal studies also show that MSCs slowed the progression of the disease in mice and resulted in the recovery of at least some motor functions.
The efficacy of stem cell therapy varies from patient to patient, but some common improvements include:
- Improved motor function
- Reduced tremors
- Reduced stiffness
- Improved speech
- Reduced stiffness
- Improved breathing and swallowing
Safety and Efficacy of MSC Therapy
Unlike stem cell therapy using embryonic stem cells, there are no serious side effects associated with MSC therapy.
Clinical trials have also shown the effectiveness of MSCs in treating ALS, attributing their efficacy to their ability to differentiate, reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system.
Patient Eligibility and Treatment Process
Regardless of the safety profile of MSCs, patients should still undergo a pretreatment evaluation at a stem cells clinic to identify any contraindications, such as:
- Acute infections
- Existing conditions
- Previous negative experience with stem cell therapy
When doctors determine the patient is eligible for stem cell treatment they can develop a personalized treatment plan and identify a suitable stem cell source and decide whether to use donor cells or the recipient’s own cells.
With donor cells, treatment can begin immediately. However, when a clinic uses the patient’s own stem cells, the cells must be sent to a lab for testing.
Stem cell treatment is quick and the only pain involved is that of a normal injection. Treatment centers perform follow-up evaluations to monitor treatment outcomes and make adjustments as necessary.
Some clinics also offer additional therapies that support recovery for ALS patients, such as MRI checkups, physiotherapy and IMR therapy.
Future Directions in Stem Cell Therapy for ALS
Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for ALS but it’s still relatively new. There is solid research that shows the safety and efficacy of MSCs, but most trials on MSCs for ALS are still in their early phases and additional research is needed to determine the proper dosing methods and source of stem cells for treatment.
In Conclusion
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a loss of motor neurons. ALS can be mild in its early stages, but as the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe. Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising ALS treatment options because it can stop the disease from progressing.
Stem cell therapy using MSCs is effective at treating ALS because it restores and protects neurons and reduces inflammation. There is a relatively low risk associated with MSC therapy and patients can see significant improvement in motor functions, breathing, speech and quality of life.
