Saturday, 8th August 2020
People with Parkinson’s and families often ask about stem cells as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since stem cells can be turned into almost any other type of cell, it’s natural to wonder if they could be a cure, or at least an improved therapy, for PD. As simple as it may seem, this is a complex area of study with many questions to answer. But clinical trials are evaluating stem cells in PD and recent research has shown progress and promise. (Read about a one-person stem cell trial in Parkinson’s.) Still, stem cells have not yet been proven safe or effective for PD.
That’s an important point. Because across the world, clinics offer unproven stem cell treatments outside of clinical trials, often for tens of thousands of dollars, creating confusion and often false hope for patients and families. At best, these treatments may hurt only your pocketbook. At worst, they could cause significant side effects. In a recent survey published in the Annals of Neurology, researchers found that among more than 200 neurologists, about 25 per cent had a patient who experienced a complication with stem cell treatment, including worsening of neurological disease, stroke, infection, tumour and even death. And with underreporting likely, side effects may be happening at much higher rates.
What to know about stem cell treatments marketed and sold by clinics:
If you are thinking about pursuing a stem cell clinic treatment, make sure to discuss it with your Parkinson’s doctor beforehand and consider these questions:
In current clinical trials investigating stem cells for Parkinson’s, researchers aim to create brain cells from stem cells in fat or skin and inject them directly into the brain. While early work has shown promise, many questions remain: What is the best process for creating brain cells from stem cells? What is the correct number of stem cells to put in the brain? How and where should they be put in the brain? Over time, do the cells stay alive? Cause significant problems? (In a clinical trial of implanted stem cells in the late 1990s, many Parkinson’s patients developed constant dyskinesia – abnormal, involuntary movement that can happen with long-term levodopa use.) What Parkinson’s symptoms respond to this treatment? Who are the ideal candidates for this treatment? Watch a webinar to learn how ongoing PD stem cell trials are answering these questions.
Article Source: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research