Stem cell therapy research is a promising area of interest for a number of scientists working to understand Parkinson’s disease and develop treatments for it. Read below to learn more about the advancements of stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Explained in Brief
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S., usually seen in adults above 60 years of age. In Parkinson’s disease, neurons die off in specific parts of the brain, which in turn result in symptoms such as tremors, slowness of movement, stiffness, and balance problems.
At present, treatments for Parkinson’s disease are largely focused on drugs that can help manage the symptoms. However, stem cell research is a promising area of interest for researchers working to understand the disease and develop effective treatments for it.
Stem Cell Research for Parkinson’s disease
Stem cells are a special type of cell that can be reprogrammed to differentiate into other types of cells. Scientists studying PD’s treatment research use stem cells to generate new dopamine cells, which can be used to investigate the disease, explore potential treatments for the disease, and potentially replace lost neurons in the brain, thereby potentially alleviating the motor symptoms of the disease. However, one’s immune system might reject the new cells. This could be a drawback of stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
How Stem Cell Therapy Works?
Stem cells are a type of undifferentiated cell that can develop into any cell type. Stem cell therapy uses these stem cells. (1) Usually, stem cells arise from embryos, but researchers can also revert blood and skin cells to an embryo-like state. Such cells are known as pluripotent stem cells.
Today, treating certain diseases, especially those involving cell dysfunction or destruction, has been made possible by scientists.
Because there is a destruction of dopaminergic neurons that produce dopamine, in the case of Parkinson’s disease(2), stem cell therapy could theoretically replace the damaged neurons and allow the brain to start producing healthy dopamine levels once again. (3)
Now, stem cell therapy has not yet shown its efficacy in treating Parkinson’s disease. However, a single case report found that a stem cell transplant could restore motor function in an individual without any adverse effects. (4)
Will Stem Cell Therapy Ever Benefit Parkinson’s?
Stem cells can turn into many types of specialized cells to treat a disorder. These may be adult or embryonic stem cells, especially from a donor, but at times, from the patient’s own body.
Today, scientists are exploring different approaches to using these stem cells in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), the neurons die in certain parts of the brain, which results in a depletion of dopamine (a neurotransmitter). The brain cells release dopamine to send signals to several other nearby cells.
By introducing stem cells directly into the affected areas of the patient’s brain, they can transform into brain cells. These brain cells regulate dopamine levels and improve symptoms. (5)
Although stem cell therapy can replace the brain cells usually destroyed in the case of Parkinson’s disease, the disease would remain, and eventually may destroy the implanted stem cells. (6)
So, at this moment, it is unclear whether stem cells could be used for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
What Have Clinical Trials Found?
Until the discovery of the process of creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the only stem cell therapies for PD required embryonic stem cells. After iPSCs were available, stem cells were used in several clinical trials for different health conditions, including neural damage, with mixed results.
Human research on Parkinson’s disease (PD) is still in the early stages; early clinical studies, however, show promise for using human embryonic cells and iPSCs to treat the disease. (7, 8)
A small clinical trial with only 7 participants was conducted in 2018 in Japan. It was the first clinical trial using iPSCs to treat Parkinson’s disease. (9) Animal models were used in completing some other trials.
Till now, the clinical trials have shown improvement in symptoms affecting movement and also non-motor symptoms, including bladder control. (10)
Challenges That Might Arise in Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is somewhat similar to an organ transplant. You might have to use immunosuppressant drugs to prevent your body from rejecting the stem cells, if they are derived from a donor.
However, if the iPSCs are derived from your cells, there is less chance that your body might reject them. But, as per expert beliefs, this will delay stem cell therapy, and it will be more expensive.
This research of 2024 implies that stem cell transplantation could be an effective therapy option for Parkinson’s disease (PD) for as long as 12 months. (11)
When Will Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Be Available?
There is no specific time for when any new therapy or treatment involving stem cell research might be available. It can take years!
Stem cell therapy research for Parkinson’s disease and other new therapies are basically conducted in five main stages. They are:
Initial research and design of a particular therapy or drug.
Preclinical study involving animal testing that examines efficacy and safety.
Research studies in human beings.
Reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration.
Further research after the availability of the therapy or drug, to test its benefits in people who receive it.
Today, clinical trials testing stem cell therapy for PD are still in the early phases. So, to be available for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, it would take years for stem cell therapy.
Final Thoughts
Parkinson’s disease is an adverse neurodegenerative condition, and some of its symptoms may be controlled through medication. However, after some years, the symptoms tend to worsen, leading to significant disability as well as death.
At such a point in time, stem cell therapy offers a potential cure. However, it has not yet cured anyone with PD till now. Over the next few years, it will be clear whether stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s is a viable treatment or not.
