Reduce the Clinical Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease with Stem Cell Therapy

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity of limbs and body, slowness of movement and loss of balance and coordination. These characteristics were described in ancient Ayurvedic literature in India 6500 years ago. In 1817, James Parkinson described the disorder as "shaking palsy." In the 1960's, the loss of dopamine-producing neurons was found to be a cause of the symptoms. Those suffering from Parkinson's Disease may have an 80% or more loss in the neurons that produce dopamine. This severe deficiency causes neurons in a part of the brain called corpus striatum to fire unevenly and sporadically, resulting in an inability to execute smooth movements. Factors that contribute to the destruction of dopamine-producing neurons include genetic susceptibility, toxic chemicals such as pesticides and air pollution, infections (including prenatal infections), hypoxia, homocysteine, heavy metal toxicity and free radical damage.

Wholistic treatments for Parkinson's Disease can include chelation therapy and antioxidant i.v. therapies. The growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor has been shown to protect dopamine neurons, especially when infused into the putamen area of the brain. Umbilical cord stem cells differentiate well into glial cells and glial cells have a protective effect on neurons, including dopamine neurons. Umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to reduce Parkinson symptoms in laboratory animals and several human subjects without any detrimental side effects associated with other stem cell sources.

A comprehensive program that includes a combination of stem cells (including CD34+, CD133+, and mesenchymal stem cells) from human umbilical cord is recommended for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Click here to see the research on Parkinson's Disease and stem cells.