The French daily newspaper, Le Parisien, reported the Formula One legend, Michael Schumacher is receiving stem cell therapy at the Georges-Pompidou Hospital in Paris, France. Michael Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury after a devastating ski accident six years ago.
Michael Schumacher, a retired German racing driver, is a seven-time Formula One champion, Ferrari’s most successful Formula One driver, and considered by many to be the greatest Formula One racer of all time.
On December 29, 2013, Schumacher was skiing in the French Alps with his son when he sustained a traumatic brain injury after hitting his head on a rock. Following his injury, he underwent two surgeries and was put into a medically induced coma. Since 2014 he has been undergoing rehabilitation at his private residence. It has been reported that he is paralyzed and has difficulty communicating, but is slowly improving.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy, in combination with growth factors and antioxidants, has been shown, in animal and/ or human trials, to be a therapeutic option for a number of diseases including but not limited to:
- Diabetes
- Orthopedic injuries and chronic conditions
- Wounds
- Spinal cord injuries and spinal stenosis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cardiovascular disease
- Erectile dysfunction
- Some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis
Stem cells are a type of undifferentiated cell that have the ability to differentiate, or change, into specific and specialized cell types.
Stem cells can be guided into becoming a specific type of cell allowing physicians trained in the field of regenerative medicine to use stem cells to repair diseased or damage tissue.
Stem cells are attracted to the site of injury and then change into the type of cell that is needed to repair or heal the damaged tissue.
Stem Cell Therapy for Traumatic Brain Injury
Approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. suffer a traumatic brain injury every year. During a traumatic brain injury, a patient experiences brain cell death and once the neurons die, they cannot regenerate themselves and the parts of the body controlled by that area of the brain become disabled.
The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury primarily involves the break of the blood brain barrier, extensive neuroinflammation, diffuse axonal injury, and neurodegenerative lesions (Xiong et al., 2008).
Recent studies have found mesenchymal stem cells can migrate across the blood brain barrier to damaged brain tissue. The MSCs regenerate and repair damaged brain tissue by differentiating into the specific type of damaged cells and by releasing anti-inflammatory and growth factors.
The goal of stem cell therapy is to replace lost and damaged neurons.
Through the paracrine effect, stem cell therapy also:
- Modulates and improves immune system response
- Eliminates cellular debris
- Limits secondary damage by protecting neurons and reducing inflammation
- Improves angiogenesis
- Promotes healing by promoting cell regeneration of endogenous stem cells
- If given soon after injury, stem cell therapy can limit initial degeneration
About the Stem Cells Transplant Institute
- At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, we believe every patient, not just the rich and famous, should be able to experience the powerful regenerative benefits of stem cell therapy.
- At our clinic, we tailor each stem cell treatment, based on the patient’s individual needs and goals.
- Our clinic offers mesenchymal stem cells derived and expanded from human umbilical cord tissue.
- The human umbilical cord stem cells are collected, expanded, and tested over a three-week period before use at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute
- Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and autologous mesenchymal stem cells have been proven in clinical trials to be safe and effective.
- The mission of the Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, is to provide the highest level of care, using the most advanced technologies, to every patient that wants to experience the life changing benefits of stem cell therapy.
Why the Stem Cells Transplant Institute Uses MSCs Derived from the Human Umbilical Cord
- Abundant supply containing up to 10 times more stem cells than bone marrow or adipose derived stem cells
- hUC-MSC have immunosuppressors and immunomodulatory properties that allow their use in any individual without rejection- Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching is not necessary
- Greater proliferation ability than adult autologous stem cells
- They regenerate at a very rapid rate
- They have not been impacted by the aging process
- They have not been affected by environmental toxins
- Umbilical cord stem cells can be administered multiple times over the course of days
- Eliminates the need to collect stem cells from the patient’s fat or hip bone reducing pain and recovery time
Scientific Reference:
- Xiong, Y., Mahmood, A., Lu, D., Qu, C., Kazmi, H., Goussev, A., et al. (2008). Histological and functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury in mice null for the erythropoietin receptor in the central nervous system. Brain Res.1230, 247–257. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2008.06.127
