What Is Stem Cell Therapy? What Types of Ailments Are Being Treated by Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem Cell Therapy is considered to be the next frontier in medicine. This technology is seen to have the ability to cure diseases thought to be incurable. As such, with further developments, it just might change the face of medicine forever.
Stem cell therapy is defined as the transplant of new cells to replace dead or damaged ones. The process starts with the maturation of donor stem cells into the desired adult cell type. These mature cells are then used to replace tissue that has been damaged by either disease or injury. Aside from treating diseases (more on this later), stem cells are seen to have higher potential for future innovations. Stem cells can be used to study disease, identify new treatments, or find ways to prevent disease progression.
Here are some examples of diseases that can be treated with the help of stem cell therapy.
- Neurologic diseases- Diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are characterized by the degeneration of cells in specific areas of the brain. With the help of stem cells, these dead cells can be replaced with new ones, helping the patient restore his/her normal brain functions.
- Stroke - A stroke, whether ischemic or hemorrhagic, causes irreversible brain damage that causes loss of function. Depending on the degree of damage, it can either be reversible or irreversible. Stem cells can one day hold the key to restoring brain functions destroyed by stroke.
- Myocardial infarction - An infarct in heart tissue can cause irreversible tissue damage. It can either cause sudden death or leave the patient more prone to succeeding attacks. Stem cells can be used to repair the damage caused by a heart attack, restoring the heart’s optimal functionality.
The future impact of stem cell therapy is still unknown. However, as early as the present, the prospects are very promising.
