Medical experts are in total agreement that there is no complete recovery from the ALS, the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease. So, as the next best alternative, practitioners continue to assess the possibility of reducing its impact or progression in the human body. There has been extensive research and clinical trials towards finding and evaluating new drugs for the ALS disease. In the coming years, there will be a specialized focus on reducing the worst impacts of ALS on patients.
ALS is comparatively a complex disease to analyze and treat. As per statistics, the condition impacts about 1 to 2 patients in, say, about 100,000 in the U.S every year. In the majority of the ALS cases, the causative factors remain unknown. In about 5% of the cases, the disease gets inherited.
Although the disease can affect a person irrespective of gender, age, or hereditary, people aged 50 and above are more vulnerable. Stem Cell Therapy is widely perceived to be the next best cure.
Stem therapy is exceptionally appealing for medical practitioners involved in ALS because these cells are capable of addressing the extensively complex progress of the ALS disease in multiple ways. In addition, the therapeutic plasticity of MSCs is well matched to the complex pathology of the disease.
MSCs are included in multiple tissues and are multipotent. The term multipotent with respect to MSCs indicates that they are equipped with the ability to be engineered into varied cell types. In addition, they can modulate the way immune cells function in human beings. They are able to do this through the secretion of the so-called ‘signaling molecules.’
As a direct effect, MSCs are solid candidates for performing cellular therapy as part of the extensive and prolonged ALS treatment.
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy
The recent years saw a push to enhance awareness on arriving at or finding a cure for ALS treatment.
Several clinical trials have been conducted with respect to Mesenchymal stem cell therapy and its perceived use in ALS treatment. These stem cells, known as MSCs, may work toward differentiating a specific type of cell. In some cases, MSC was found to release a wide variety of trophic and growth factors.
Medical researchers have confirmed through numerous preclinical trials that the Transplantation of MSC Cells can delay the onset of the disease. Moreover, the affected individuals could substantially reduce the loss of human motor neurons.
Once MSCs are transplanted, they secrete certain neurotrophic factors. There are several preclinical trials to support these findings.
This year, more activity with respect to MSCs and ALS treatment is expected.
Although several studies have proven that MSC transplantation results in slowing down the progress of the ALS disease, the exact mechanisms through which beneficial effects arise are not precisely known. MSCs play several roles in the ALS treatment. There includes many mechanisms of support and repair, cell replacement, gene delivery, or even immunomodulation. Maybe this year, the medical technology space can gain in-depth insights into the details.