Parkinson’s disease is one of the most widespread neurodegenerative diseases in the world, affecting over 6.2 million people, of which 1.2 million in Europe. This is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer’s disease, and its prevalence is increasing globally. In Romania, it is estimated that there are approximately 72,000 patients diagnosed with this condition, and recent research indicates that the number of patients will double by 2030. The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are diverse, which can lead to their confusion with other conditions and a delay in diagnosis . This disease presents more than 40 symptoms and especially affects body movements. Usually, patients are diagnosed around the age of 60, but movement disorders only appear in stage 3 of the disease. However, the disease develops slowly, and the first lesions can appear up to 20 years before the first signs appear.
Currently, more than 100 studies are underway worldwide to evaluate the use of stem cells in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. These studies are divided into several categories, such as embryonic stem cell therapies, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) therapies, and adult stem cell therapies. Researchers have so far managed to achieve good results during clinical trials on rodents and monkeys, and recently, in Sweden, the first patient with Parkinson’s disease received a stem cell transplant. “With this study, we hope to demonstrate that the cell product works as expected in patients. Over time, this creates the opportunity to help more people with Parkinson’s in the future”, said Malin Parmar, professor at Lund University, who leads the STEM-PD team in close collaboration with colleagues from Skåne University Hospital, Cambridge University, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College London.
In particular, stem cell therapies could help replace damaged or dead nerve cells in the brain, thereby restoring normal nervous system function. The main immediate benefit observed was a reduction in motor symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness and difficulty moving. Stem cell therapies have been shown in preclinical studies to improve these symptoms and help restore motor function.
„In Romania, the lack of a public stem cell bank is an obstacle in the development of cell therapies, but we have the privilege of having numerous private banks that offer the option of collecting stem cells at birth, thus allowing access to cell therapies in the future. Moreover, by harvesting the placenta at birth and storing the different types of stem cells from this tissue for decades, under cryogenic conditions, we can ensure the access of the whole family to future cellular therapies for the treatment of Parkinson’s as well. This is all the more valuable considering that these cells are immunoevasive and can be used both for the child from whom they were harvested and for the parents or grandparents, giving them a chance for a healthier and longer life. long“, said Dr. Bogdan Coltor, Cord Blood Center medical representative.
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