Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that impacts the central nervous system. MS affects millions of people worldwide, with the United States alone having over 1 million cases. Until recently, there was no cure for multiple sclerosis.

While there are a few treatments available to manage the symptoms, these procedures are not always effective. But with the recent innovations made in medical technology, stem cell therapy has become a groundbreaking treatment for many conditions, including multiple sclerosis.

Stem cells have the potential to rejuvenate and regenerate the damaged cells in the body, which can reverse and even cure multiple sclerosis symptoms in some cases.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that impacts the central nervous system; it causes a range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, fatigue, and difficulty in balance and coordination.

The disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the myelin, a fatty substance that coats and protects the nerve fibers in the central nervous system. As the myelin becomes damaged, the nerves are exposed, and they start to malfunction, resulting in the wide range of symptoms associated with MS.

How is Multiple Sclerosis typically treated?

Currently, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Still, there are several treatments available to manage the symptoms, such as corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy.

These treatments describe the side effects of the disease, like muscle stiffness and aches, but they don’t target the root cause of the disease or reverse the damage to the central nervous system.

What is stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a groundbreaking technique that utilizes stem cells, primarily embryonic and adult, to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into any cell type in the body.

Stem cells have the potential to transform into cells that produce myelin, which means they can potentially reverse the damage caused to the central nervous system by MS.

How does stem cell therapy reverse Multiple Sclerosis?

Stem cells have the potential to transform into any cell type in the body. Adult stem cells can develop into different types of cells in specific tissues, such as muscle, skin, bone, blood vessels, and the nervous system.

When stem cells are introduced into the body, they migrate to the damaged cells and repair the damage, producing new cells that can replace the damaged ones. As a result, stem cell therapy can reverse the damage caused by multiple sclerosis, leading to a possible cure for the disease.

Types of Stem Cells used in Multiple Sclerosis Stem Cell Therapy

There are two common types of stem cell therapy used in treating multiple sclerosis: autologous and allogeneic stem cell therapy.

Autologous Stem Cell Therapy

In this type of therapy, the stem cells are isolated from the patient’s bone marrow or blood and then reintroduced into the same person. The process entails extracting stem cells from the patient and growing them in a lab.

The host’s immune system is then depleted using chemotherapy or radiation therapy, making room for the new, healthy stem cells to be introduced. The new stem cells will then grow and replace the damaged cells, reversing the damage caused by multiple sclerosis. This therapy is preferred because the patient’s body already recognizes the stem cells and does not pose a risk of rejection.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy

Allogeneic stem cell therapy mostly involves using stem cells from a donor to treat multiple sclerosis.

Unlike the autologous type of stem cell therapy, the stem cells that are used in allogeneic stem cell therapy may come from a donor similar to a bone marrow transplant. The process still entails isolating stem cells from the bone marrow or blood, but instead of reintroducing the cells into the same patient, the cells are introduced into another patient with multiple sclerosis.

Allogeneic stem cell therapy requires that the recipient receive a high dose of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to eradicate the immune system, thus making room for the new stem cells. Allogeneic stem cell therapy is riskier since there is a risk that the host body will reject the introduced cells.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis patients offers many benefits compared to conventional treatments. Firstly, stem cell therapy reverses the root cause of the disease, and it is most likely to lead to a cure.

It would mean that patients no longer have to rely on symptoms management procedures that come with undesirable side effects. Additionally, stem cell therapy comes with very little risk of side effects, and it allows patients to undergo the process within shorter periods compared to other treatments.

Risks of Stem Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Although stem cell therapy has many benefits, specific risks, and side effects that patients should be aware of. The most significant risk associated with stem cell therapy is the possibility of rejection.

This risk is higher with allogeneic stem cell therapy as the introduced stem cells are from another person, unlike autologous stem cell therapy where the cells are from the patient. Other side effects of stem cell therapy include infections, bleeding, and adverse reactions to chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Summary

Multiple sclerosis poses a significant threat to millions of people worldwide. The disease has debilitating symptoms with no cure. The available treatments are only for managing the symptoms, and they do not target the root cause of the disease.

But stem cell therapy is changing all that. Stem cells are powerful cells that can regenerate cells and reverse damage to the nervous system. Stem cells offer a new hope in the fight against multiple sclerosis, as they introduce the possibility of a cure for the disease.