Stem Cell Therapy For Alzheimer's 2022( All You Need To Know)

Overview of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease that causes brain cells to shrink and die. It is considered to be a form of Dementia.

It causes a continuous decline in a person’s behavior, thinking, and social skills, eventually leaving them unable to function independently.

So far, researchers have been unable to determine the exact cause of AD. It is widely believed that a combination of age, genetics, environmental, and lifestyle factors result in AD. It leads to the build-up of a protein called amyloid in the brain, which kills off brain cells.

How does one spot a person suffering from AD? 

Since initial symptoms are easy to dismiss as normal occurrences with advancing age, a close family member is the best person to keep an eye out for the following:

• Forgetting recent conversations and events in the initial stages
• Difficulty in concentration and thinking, especially while dealing with numbers
• Reduced capability of making sound decisions and judgments
• Changes in personality and behavior, including social withdrawal and mood swings

Can you relate to any of the above symptoms? 

 

Do not worry! Stem cell therapy is the answer to your problem! 

Stem Cell Therapy

Before we jump into the details of stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, let’s understand what stem cells are. 

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells present in our body, that can form any tissue.

They are found in several areas, like the bone marrow of certain bones, fatty tissue of the abdomen, and circulating blood to name a few. In certain cases, umbilical stem cells are also used for treatment.

The two types of stem cell transplants are autologous transplants, where the patient’s stem cells are used, and analogous stem cells, where donor cells are used.

But how does this relate to AD? 

You see, stem cells have special properties of repair and regeneration. When researchers realized this, they devised a way to use them to repair damaged nerve cells and form new ones.

We already know that this has never been possible with conventional treatments. However, stem cell research for Alzheimer’s has shown promising results so far. 

Does Stem Cell Therapy Work for Alzheimer’s?

Let’s answer the most important question first. 

Stem cell therapy has shown immense potential in treating AD. Patient’s have exhibited improvement in memory, social skills, and concentration.

However, it is important to know that stem cell for Alzheimer’s is still undergoing clinical trials, and is fairly new. As a consequence, it is not FDA approved yet.

Does every AD patient qualify for stem cell treatment for Alzheimer’s?

Not yet. 

Every clinical trial has its own set of stringent requirements. Some of the basic criteria are:

• This treatment should be done in the initial stages of AD.
• The patient should not have any other neurodegenerative disease.
• The patient should not have a history of seizures.
• There should be no extensive medical history or a history of transplants.
• The patient should not be on blood thinners.

Risks and Benefits of Stem Cells for Alzheimer’s Patients

Every medical treatment has some benefits and risks. 

 

It is for you to decide if the benefits of Alzheimer’s stem cell therapy outweigh the risks.

Cost

How will stem cell therapy Alzheimer’s affect your wallet? 

The cost of this treatment depends on several factors like the severity of the disease, the number of cycles required, and the type of stem cells used.

In India, Alzheimer’s disease treatment by stem cell therapy costs 1500 to 2000 USD for each cycle, with the total cost being 6500 to 13,400 USD. This expense includes hospital stays and any after-care that might be required. 

In comparison, the same treatment, minus hospital expenses, costs 25,000 to 50,000 USD in the US.

How Can Stem Cell Therapy be Used to Treat Alzheimer’s?

To answer this question, it’s time to go back to science class. 

Stem cells have six useful properties that help in the treatment of AD.

• They replace dead or damaged neural cells.
• They secrete neurotrophic factors, which help establish connections between newly formed neurons.
• The stem cells will encourage the production of anti-amyloid proteins.
• They stimulate an anti-inflammatory response.
• They promote the activation of your innate stem cells.
• And finally, they improve the metabolic activity of your brain cells.

As you can see, all these functions solve the issues which cause AD in the first place. This multi-pronged activity makes stem cells an effective AD treatment.

What Type of Stem Cells are Used to Treat Alzheimer’s?

Mesenchymal stem cells are responsible for forming bone cells, nerve cells, and cartilage cells. We have already seen the various locations where stem cells are available in our bodies.

Which ones are the best to treat AD?

Bone marrow-derived stem cells are most commonly used. A few studies have also used umbilical stem cells with some success. Most trials also conduct autologous transplants, making stem cells easily available.

Procedure

Worried about what the procedure of stem cell treatment Alzheimer’s disease will entail?

 

Let us put your mind at ease. 

Stem cell therapy is a very simple procedure, that can be divided into three steps.

Most patients require a three-day hospital stay, following which they are discharged. 

The whole procedure is painless and non-invasive, which keeps you or your loved one comfortable.

What to Expect After Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer’s? 

You will be very happy to know that no long-term side effects have been reported by any clinical study so far. 

Right after the procedure, the patient may experience some headache or dizziness. This only lasts for a few hours.

The recovery period for stem cell therapy in Alzheimer's disease is very short. One can resume their daily activities in one to two days. However, depending on age, no strenuous physical activity is allowed for the next two to three weeks.

Results

Now that the procedure is done, you may be wondering when can you start seeing an improvement, right?

Most patients show visible results three to four weeks after the procedure.

They continue to get better over the next three to six months. 

What improvements can you expect? 

You will see significant betterment in:

• Memory
• Concentration
• Decision-making
• Behavior and Personality

Unfortunately, these results are not exactly permanent yet. So far, most patients have shown signs of improvement for twelve to sixteen months after the treatment, at which point they once again start showing a decline.

Of course, you can undergo another cycle of stem cell therapy at this stage. Researchers are working hard to make results longer. While it is early days, there has been some success in achieving this.

Success Rate

The success rate of Alzheimer’s disease stem cell treatment depends on numerous factors. 

Some of them are age, the severity of the disease, and the affliction of other neurodegenerative diseases.

There is a huge amount of data on Alzheimer’s and stem cell therapy which makes it difficult to assign a proper figure to the success rate. However, since clinical trials in India are more regularized, we can refer to data from these studies.

In India, stem cell therapy for AD has shown a success rate of 65-85%. 

Yes, you read that right!

Research Study 

That was a lot of technical knowledge about stem cells, wasn’t it? 

 

Do you want to hear about stem cell research for Alzheimer’s patients too?

This study from February 2021 did a deep dive into stem cell therapy Alzheimer's disease. Not only did they study the individual properties of all the different kinds of stem cells, but they also investigated clinical trials right from the beginning.

And what did they say? 

They said that stem cell therapy has a huge potential in being the elusive cure for AD. Additionally, the results have been steadily improving with each passing year.

Doesn’t this make stem cell therapy a prospective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease according to you?

 

So, what are you thinking? 

 

Call today and get free Consultation!