Stem cell-based therapies have the potential to treat and/or eradicate many of the most debilitating diseases and injuries that we may face during our lives. They, stem cells, are under-appreciated and misrepresented, and certain types (like embryonic) can be ethically contentious.
Recent research shows that stem cell therapy may have the ability to slow the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a nervous system disease that affects roughly 2 per 100,000 individuals in the United States each year.
Umbilical cord tissue-derived MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells), have been shown to improve post-acute COVID-19 symptomatology by significantly decreasing inflammatory cytokines, modulating the immune system, and improving recovery times. Cytokines are a category of small proteins important in cell signaling.
A stroke is one of the most common diseases, affecting almost 800,000 people annually in the United States. Recent research on mesenchymal stem cells have shown them to be potentially effective at treating strokes and improving the conditions of stroke patients. Mesenchymal stem cells can help by secreting growth factors to aid other recovery mechanisms such as neurons, synapses, and new blood vessels.
Kidney disease is a condition in which the kidneys become damaged and cannot filter blood properly. Kidney disease affects over 660,000 Americans and leads to 47,000 deaths per year in the United States. People with high blood pressure and diabetes are at greater risk for kidney disease. Treatment for kidney disease can be very expensive, and patients can wait years for treatment.
