Stem cell research has become very popular in recent times due to its capability to treat several incurable diseases. Stem cell research is rapidly transforming regenerative medicine in India and all over the world. Today, we will discuss how stem cell use in therapeutic applications is transforming and how it has improved lives.
Stem cell research
Stem cell research is being used to rapidly evolve regenerative medicine by providing new insights into human biology. Researchers are using embryonic, adult, and pluripotent stem cells to understand the mechanism behind stem cell differentiation. Understanding the mechanism is helping us move forward to develop new treatments for various diseases, such as autism and ALS.
Types of Stem Cells Used In Research
As we mentioned earlier, there are three types of stem cells.
- Embryonic stem cells: These cells are derived from embryos during their early developmental stages. These cells are totipotent and can give rise to all the cell types in the body. However, its use for research and therapeutic applications is being frowned upon due to ethical implications. Researchers have led to the development of other alternative sources of pluripotent stem cells.
- Adult stem cells: As we age, stem cell potency decreases, but we still have stem cells in our bodies. These stem cells are being thoroughly researched to treat diseases. These cells are not as potent as embryonic stem cells but are multipotent. These stem cells can only differentiate into a certain number of cell types. However, these cells do not raise as many ethical concerns as embryonic stem cells do.
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: These stem cells were discovered quite recently. In this adult, cells, like skin, are genetically reprogrammed to resemble embryonic stem cells. These cells can potentially revolutionize regenerative medicine in India and around the world. However, because we are genetically reprogramming the adult cells, this could lead to long-term side effects.
Advantages of adult stem cells
Due to their lesser ethical implications for adult stem cells, their use for therapeutic applications has rapidly evolved. Because these stem cells are multipotent, they can transform into several important cell types. There are several advantages to adult stem cells, including
- Ease of obtaining: It is relatively easy and cruelty-free to obtain adult stem cells. One can obtain stem cells from tissues like bone marrow and the umbilical cord.
- Decreased risk of rejection: In several cases, stem cells are obtained from close relatives or compatible donors. This decreases the risk of rejection. In a few cases, patients’ own stem cells are used to treat a few diseases.
- A wealth of knowledge: Adult stem cells have been extensively studied, and there is a wealth of knowledge available to progress the advancement of regenerative medicine in India and other parts of the world.
Application and Advancement Of Stem Cells
Despite the ethical implications, stem cell research has shown rapid regenerative medicine in India and all around the world. Some notable advancements include:
- Use of stem cells in treating various neurological conditions like autism, ALS, and dementia.
- Use of stem cells to design drug models and develop them.
- Use of stem cells to improve the aging process and the overall health of the individual.
- Use of stem cells to give rise to brain cells to help in conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Adult Stem Cells In Therapeutic Applications
Due to the wealth of knowledge available, adult stem cells have found use in various therapeutic treatments. Some notable examples where adult stem cells are being used include:
- Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: It is a well-known treatment option for blood disorders like leukemia and lymphoma. In this treatment, stem cells from a donor are transplanted into the patient to replace damaged or diseased tissue.
- Musculoskeletal regeneration: There are reports that show stem cells can repair damaged bones, cartilage, and tendons. It will help the patients to be relieved of their pain and live a fulfilling life.
- Neurological Conditions: There are several stories where patients have seen improvements after stem cell therapy for conditions like autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
Heart diseases: Adult stem cells have demonstrated potential for regenerating damaged heart tissue, resulting in the development of novel therapeutic applications.
Success Stories For Stem Cell Therapy
There are clinical trials ongoing where patients choose to remain anonymous after their stem cell treatment. However, there are a few cases where patients are open to discussing their stories with others to provide them with the hope they are looking for. Let’s discuss two cases where stem cell therapy helped individuals regain their lives.
Giulia’s family fights against dementia.
Giulia is 76 years old and has two kids. As she gets older, she starts to forget everyday things. After a thorough examination by her doctor, they gave her the diagnosis of dementia. As time progressed, her condition took a turn for the worse. All these started to affect her walking and cause hallucinations, which made it increasingly difficult for her to live independently.
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In an attempt to help her mother, Giuli’s daughter decided to do her own research and found out about stem cell therapy. Her daughter spent time researching and discussing the possibilities of the treatment. However, she faced opposition from her family members and medical professionals. In an attempt to see her mother improve, she decided to go for this alternative regenerative medicine in India. The therapy itself went smoothly, and there were no side effects.
Over the following months, she started to see remarkable changes in her mother’s condition. Giulia began recognizing her family members and started to willfully walk independently. Her daughter shared that she was happy to see that her mother’s condition was improving. While it was not a complete cure, it allowed Giulia and her family to create cherished memories.
Read Giulia’s Story
New Hope for Rehman
Rehman is a chef by profession and the owner of a restaurant in Norway. Everything for him and his family was going well until Rehman started to experience problems with his speech. He was diagnosed with ALS after the treatment. They started to seek treatment in Norway, but his condition only kept deteriorating. As time progressed, he started to have difficulties swallowing, chewing, and performing basic motor functions. He was on medication for a long time, but the side effects were even worse, which made it challenging to give 100% to his work and family.
Shahid, Rehman’s son, was determined to help alleviate his father’s symptoms and started to do research. His search led him to stem cell therapy as an alternative regenerative medicine in India. Because of the more affordable cost of stem cell therapy in India than in Norway, Shahid started to dig deeper to find a reputable clinic. With the full knowledge that stem cell therapy would not be a cure but a treatment option to manage the condition. He wanted to help his father regain some lost movement and speech.
This was a new chapter in Rehman’s life, and he underwent stem cell therapy. The procedure itself was smooth, and he did not see any side effects. After returning, Shahid made sure that his father received physiotherapy regularly and daily exercises. Over time, Rehman’s condition started to show positive signs of improvement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stem cell therapy is emerging as a beacon of hope in the realm of regenerative medicine in India and all over the world. We are still scratching the surface of what stem cells can do. As researchers progress in stem cell research, we can hope to develop novel treatment solutions in the future. Stem cell therapy is a promising future that will lead to a brighter future for regenerative medicines..
FAQ
Q: What are the advantages of adult stem cells?
Adult stem cells offer numerous advantages over other stem cell types. It includes ease of obtaining, decreased risk of rejection, and a wealth of knowledge available for research and therapeutic applications. With all these factors combined, they are also facing fewer ethical implications.
Q: How are stem cells given to a patient?
There are two ways to provide stem cells to the patient. The first is a stem cell transplant, where a given number of stem cells from a donor are given to the patient through surgery. The second is using it as cell therapy, where the patients are given stem cells intravenously.
Q: What conditions can stem cell therapy potentially treat?
Stem cells are being extensively used to provide alternative treatment solutions for individuals suffering from many incurable diseases. Stem cells have been successfully used to control the replication of many blood diseases, like leukemia and lymphoma. In addition to this, stem cell therapy has been used to manage neurological conditions like autism, ALS, dementia, osteoarthritis, parkinsonian disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.
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