Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a neurodegenerative condition that involves the breakdown of motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brain. Patients with ALS may experience weakness in their limbs followed by a quick and progressive paralysis that leads to total paralysis, respiratory failure and death.
The Stem Cells Transplant Institute in Costa Rica, recommends the use of umbilical cord stem cells for the treatment of ALS.
Treatment at the Stem Cells Transplant Institute could help improve the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:
ALS is a progressive neuromuscular disease that damages primarily the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, responsible to controlling voluntary muscle movement like chewing, walking and talking. Damage to the barrier or protective wall between the central nervous system and the blood circulatory system allows harmful substances including immune mediated cells and inflammatory cells to enter both the brain and the spinal cord.
Motor neurons in the brain (upper motor neurons) and motor neurons in spinal cord and motor nuclei of the brain (lower motor neurons) begin to die and no longer send messages to the voluntary muscles in the body. Without signals from the brain and spine the muscles are no longer able to function and they become weak and begin to die. Initially the muscles weaken and begin to twitch but eventually they atrophy or die and the body loses its ability to control voluntary movement.
A cure for ALS is not available at this time, and the disease typically leads to death within 3–5 years after diagnosis, primarily due to respiratory failure.
Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) specifically, seem to be the most suitable type of stem cells due to their demonstrated beneficial effects in many different experimental models, their easy access, and the lack of ethical issues associated with other types of stem cells.
The beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cells are due to multiple factors. The beneficial effects are due in part to the paracrine effect that results in the release of different growth factors, cytokines, free nucleic acids, lipids and extracellular vesicles. These secreted biomolecules promote tissue repair, modulate the immune system, have an anti-inflammatory effect and provide antiapoptotic activities.1
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) can promote the release of acetylcholine, promote neurogenesis and synaptic formation and can reduce oxidative stress and cell death. Research is showing hUC-MSCs to be a better alternative to allogeneic stem cells because of their hypo-immunogenicity, superior tropism, high differentiation potential and paracrine activity.2,3
Evidence suggests HUC-MSCs can differentiate into a variety of neuro-regulatory molecules and can elevate several factors including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Glucagon-like pepetide-1 (GLP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).4
Neural stem cells transplanted at sites of nerve injury are thought to promote functional recovery by producing trophic factors that induce survival and regeneration of host neurons. Intravenously administered mesenchymal stem cells are also capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and effectively migrating to regions of neural injury, without inducing tumor growth or an immune response.4
According ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov) on August 22, 2019, there are 9 trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of cell based therapy for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
In 2016 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that between 14,000 – 15,000 Americans have ALS. ALS usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and for unknown reasons, military veterans are approximately twice as likely as the general population to be diagnosed with the disease.
The Stem Cells Transplant Institute recommends the use of hUC-MSCs for the treatment of ALS.
For optimal results, we recommend Aggressive Platinum Therapy (APT). APT is a 4-day treatment plan.
Each day you will receive the following:
Some studies have found autologous MSCs from patients diagnosed with ALS have reduced properties when compared to MSCs taken from healthy donors. Stem cells from patients with ALS showed reduced expression of several trophic factors and a reduced migration capacity.5-7
NIH trial NCT02881476 showed the intrathecal injection of allogeneic Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs in ALS patients to be safe.8
ALS is a group of neuromuscular diseases that destroys many different types of neurons in the brain and spine.
Successful treatment requires all the stem cells to travels to the brain and spine and differentiate into different types of neurons and other cells correctly.
At this time stem cell therapy does not stop the underlying cause of ALS and patients may need more than one treatment due to a declining effect over time.
Our clinic focuses on obtaining healthy stem cells exclusively from umbilical cord blood donors. We collect the placenta once the baby is born, with the parent’s informed consent. Additionally, we follow strict ethical guidelines and collect stem cells from reliable and reputable sources.
Our nursing staff administers the stem cells through an intravenous and intra-pulmonary route. For the most effective outcomes, intravenous administration is preferred.
Our clinic is located in Costa Rica, which is one of the most popular medical tourism destinations for stem cell therapy. At the Stem Cells Transplant Institute, we have a skilled team of doctors and medical professionals who collect and administer stem cells to treat autism and other conditions. Every patient receives the most cost-effective and top-notch care from our dedicated team.
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