Stroke - Common Causes of Neurologic Damage

stem cell therapy nz  is the use of stem cells in medicine and healthcare. Stem cells are capable of self-renewal as well as giving rise to specialized cells such as neurons or cardiac cells. Various stem cell therapies are already being used to treat diseases such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). New Zealand is a small country with a population of just over 5 million people. It is ranked 19th on the Global Life Optimism Index, higher than most other countries but below the world's best countries. Despite this, it still manages to outperform the rest of the world in terms of life expectancy, with men having an average of 80 years and women having an average of 84 years. This puts it in the top 10 of the happiest countries in the world.

Why Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy has a number of advantages including potential to treat a variety of diseases and injuries, minimal invasiveness, and the opportunity to combine this treatment with other therapies.

One of the biggest barriers to treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's is the fact that these diseases develop over a long period of time, during which patients struggle to remain symptom-free. Stem cell therapy, on the other hand, has the ability to repair and replace damaged tissue which in turn could lead to fewer or no symptoms. This could help patients lead a normal life even if they have Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.

A therapy that is so versatile and effective could not be ignored by healthcare practitioners and companies in New Zealand. The chance to develop a drug that treats so many different conditions could prove to be very lucrative.

The Growing Industry

FDA-approved stem cell therapies are emerging as a treatment option for a variety of conditions. According to IQVIA, a global life sciences research organization, the market value of this segment is expected to hit $16 billion by next year.

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most well-known diseases that are being treated with stem cell therapies. In March 2019, the FDA approved the world's first drug that is solely designed to treat MS patients. The therapy, known as Provenge, is a personalized vaccine that helps the body's immune system identify and fight cancer cells. More specifically, it can be used to treat MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression as well as help with neurological repair.

It is evident that New Zealand is taking the industry by storm, emerging as one of the world's biggest players in this field. The government-funded health research company, GSK, alone, earned over $13 billion in 2019 by selling drugs, receiving reimbursements, and developing novel therapies. With over 60% of this industry focused on neurology, it is likely that more and more people are going to be seeking out stem cell therapy as a viable treatment option. In 2020, GSK is expanding its London office and creating 250 new jobs to accommodate the expected increase in demand.

The Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy has the potential to benefit many different diseases and medical conditions. While these therapies are still in their early stages of development, preliminary studies have shown promising results. The ability to reduce disease and damage while increasing repair and longevity makes stem cell therapies a top choice for anyone wanting to live a healthier life. Below, we'll discuss the various medical applications of stem cell therapy.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. It is caused by the loss of neurons in the brain which leads to motor dysfunction. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, and it primarily affects people as they get older. Since there is no known cause of the disease, it is categorized as a “senile disorder”. The only known treatment for Parkinson's disease is medications and therapy, which help patients manage the symptoms.

One of the greatest challenges in treating Parkinson's disease is the fact that it has such a wide array of symptoms, making it difficult to find a suitable drug to treat the condition. Stem cell therapy has the ability to repair and restore damaged tissue, potentially alleviating many of the symptoms associated with the disease. Clinical trials using stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease have shown that it is a safe and effective approach, and one that could potentially cure the disease. Most notably, neural stem cell transplantation has been shown to help with motor function and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease. In one study, neural stem cells were transplanted into the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease. After just 12 weeks, the patients' motor function, as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, had improved by 35% compared to the pre-treatment score. There was also an observed 41% improvement in terms of balance, as measured by the Functional Mobility Scale. Not only did the patients show significant improvement in their motor skills, but they also reported feeling more content and less anxious. These results were highly promising, suggesting that stem cell therapy could be an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Nerve Damage From Stroke

Stroke is another common cause of neurologic damage. It is caused by sudden damage to the blood vessels in the brain which lead to tissue death. This often causes neurological deficits, making it difficult for the patient to move freely. If left untreated, these problems can have serious consequences. One of the most common complications associated with stroke is dementia. In recent years, there has been growing interest in using stem cell therapies to treat this condition. One reason for this is that neural stem cells can help repair and restore lost cognitive functions.

Cerebral vascular disorders are a common cause of brain damage, and they affect nearly 5.7 million Americans each year. Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and dementia are the three most common types of dementia. The great thing about stem cells is that they can be easily harvested from the patient's own body, leaving them with a “ready-made” supply of medical-grade cells. The use of these cells in patient's after suffering a stroke could limit the risk of recurrence, as well as help with neurological repair and recovery. Preclinical studies have shown that neural stem cell transplantation improves synaptic plasticity and enhances memory formation in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. In addition to treating dementia, stem cells have the ability to treat the symptoms of stroke including:

• Muscle Weakness
• Balance Issues
• Severe Headaches
• Hearing Loss
• Double Vision
• Memory Loss
• Loss Of Interest In Daily Life
• Depression
• Learning Disabilities
• Stroke Recovery
• Inability To Focus
• Insomnia

Stem cell therapy offers great promise for treating a variety of diseases and injuries, and it is something that many people with healthcare coverage are likely to benefit from. Since there is no known cure for many of these diseases and conditions, finding a suitable treatment is often a challenge. In the case of Parkinson's disease and dementia, the only current treatment is palliative at best, with no known cure. For these patients, and many others, stem cell therapy has the potential to be a last resort treatment option.