New stem cell therapies may soon be used to restore movement to patients suffering from paralysis in the UK. A series of recent scientific breakthroughs has led scientists to believe that damage to the spinal cord may be reversible. Patients are already benefiting from these innovative stem cell therapies by traveling overseas for treatment.

These new stem cell therapies usually involve doctors obtaining stem cells from a patient’s body, then prompting those cells to turn into specialised cells to repair the spinal cord. Researchers hope that the techniques may soon be used to restore movement to thousands of people around the world.

When a spinal cord injury occurs, it usually results in the loss of nerves, which impairs both motor and sensory function. Scientists have long suspected that the regenerative capabilities of stem cells may be harnessed to repair the damage to nerves in the spinal cord, restoring movement.

To perform this type of stem cell therapy, cells are harvested from a patient before being turned into neurones or glia-neurones. These cells have a protective and regenerative function within the spinal cord. They are then transplanted into the spine.

At this stage, scientists suggest that stem cell therapies have the potential to bring back feeling and movement. However, they are still assessing the risks of this type of stem cell therapy. Using stem cell therapy to treat paralysed patients has not been approved for commercial use in the UK or the United States.

Some patients are traveling overseas to have this kind of stem cell therapy performed — many traveling to Thailand to have it performed. Many of these patients have seen incredible results from the procedure, regaining feeling in their limbs and in some cases,  being able to stand again.

Source: Stem cell therapy brings lease of hope to paralytic patients

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