A new study in the journal Stem Cells Translational indicates that autologous cord blood infusions are safe for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research was carried out by scientists from Duke University’s Robertson Clinical and Translational Cell Therapy Program.
Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg of the Cord Blood Bank and Paediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, said of the findings, “We are pleased that this study demonstrated the safety of treating children with ASD with their own cord blood. We’re also encouraged that, while small and non-randomised, there were observed improvements in a majority of the children reported by clinicians and parents.”
The trial was created with the goal of determining the safety of autologous cord blood infusions to treat children with ASD. It also examined the effects that cord blood infusions had on the children’s ASD symptoms. It measured each child’s socialisation skills, communication abilities and overall symptoms before-and-after the treatment. This information was recorded from parent observations and clinical judgment of the participants.
Researchers also used novel techniques for assessing the progress of the children after receiving their cord blood infusions. One of those techniques was eye-tracking to determine how each child was processing social interactions around them.
The study found that the cord blood infusions were safe and that they had a positive effect on the children’s autism symptoms. It is an exciting research project and may lead to a cord blood being used as the primary treatment for autism into the future.
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