Stem Cell Therapy for Brain Injury - Stem Cell Therapy

 

Stem Cell Therapy for Brain Injury Abroad

 

A Brain injury can result in a substantial handicap to the individual who sustained the brain injury and may trigger numerous types of cognitive impairments like lack of memory, focus or other motor-neurological disorders such as ALS or Parkinson’s Disease. A brain injury may also consist of any injury that’s vascular by nature and not traumatic where there was an event that directly caused or instigated the injury. 

Types of brain injury

Traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain that was caused by a trauma to the head (head injury). There are many possible causes, including road traffic accidents, assaults, falls and accidents at home or at work.

Acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injury covers all situations in which brain injury has occurred since birth, and includes traumatic brain injury as well as tumour, stroke, brain haemorrhage and encephalitis, to name a few. The effects are often very similar to those of traumatic brain injury, but there are key differences that make treating and coping with acquired brain injury quite different.

Causes of brain injury

Brain damage occurs when it is starved of oxygen for a prolonged period of time. Brain damage can occur as a result of a wide range of injuries, illnesses, or conditions.

Causes of traumatic brain injury include:

• Car accidents
• Blows to the head
• Sports injuries
• Falls or accidents
• Physical violence

Causes of acquired brain injury include:

• Poisoning or exposure to toxic substances
• Infection
• Strangulation, choking, or drowning
• Stroke
• Heart attacks
• Tumors
• Aneurysms
• Neurological illnesses
• Abuse of illegal drugs

Symptoms of brain injury

Cognitive symptoms of brain damage include:

• Difficulty processing information
• Difficulty in expressing thoughts
• Difficulty understanding others
• Shortened attention span
• Inability to understand abstract concepts
• Impaired decision-making ability
• Memory loss

Perceptual symptoms of brain damage include:

• Change in vision, hearing, or sense of touch
• Spatial disorientation
• Inability to sense time
• Disorders of smell and taste
• Balance issues
• Heightened sensitivity to pain

Physical symptoms of brain damage include:

• Persistent headaches
• Extreme mental fatigue
• Extreme physical fatigue
• Paralysis
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to light
• Sleep disorders
• Slurred speech
• Loss of consciousness

Treatment of brain injury

Anyone who has a head or brain injury needs immediate medical attention. The key factor is the extent and location of the damage. Brain injury does not necessarily result in long-term disability or impairment, but the correct diagnosis and treatment is needed to contain or minimize the damage.

The extent and effect of brain damage is determined by a neurological exam, neuroimaging testing such as MRI or CT scans, and neuropsychological assessments. Doctors will stabilize the patient to prevent further injury, ensure blood and oxygen are flowing properly to the brain, and ensure that blood pressure is controlled.

Almost all patients will benefit from rehabilitation to assist in long-term recovery. That may include:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Psychological support

Stem Cell therapy for brain injury

Stem cell treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) will focus on the secondary brain injury, which is the result of biochemical and physiological events, ultimately leading to neuronal cell death. Recent research has indicated that the potential therapeutic benefit of stem cell therapy could be the result of the following mechanisms:

• Secrete growth factors to promote functional outcome after brain injury via neurogenesis and
  synaptogenesis;
• Produce and induce many cytokines and trophic factors to enhance angiogenesis and vascular stabilisation in the lesion boundary zone;
• Decrease glial scar formation and promote glial-axonal remodeling;
• Differentiate into cells of neural origin including neurons, astrocytes, and glial cells.

Stem cells, therefore, act in a pleiotropic way to stimulate brain remodeling after brain injury by influencing several neural restorative functions such as synaptogenesis, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis.

Benefits of brain injury treatment

Unlike most other cells in the body, brain cells do not regenerate when they are destroyed. However, this does not mean that no recovery can occur. The brain is somewhat flexible and is able to reorganize itself, to an extent, in order to regain lost function. This is known as brain 'plasticity'.

During recovery, other areas of the brain take over the activities of the damaged areas and new nerve pathways can be established using undamaged brain cells. Engaging in activity helps these alternative pathways to develop.

Rehabilitation aims to help the brain learn alternative ways of working in order to minimise the long-term impact of the brain injury. Rehabilitation also helps the survivor and the family to cope successfully with any remaining disabilities.

Cost of brain injury treatment

The cost of the treatment for brain injury depends on the type of treatment your doctor decides you need. Individuals traveling to foreign destinations such as Mexico, Latin America, and Asia may enjoy between 30% and 50% savings on costs compared to the US and Canada on the same type of procedure, which include all inclusive hospital /hotel stay, care, and medical support.

Doctors

Many facilities worldwide offer stem cell therapy, but it's important to locate accredited and experienced physicians who deal with stem cell treatments. Doctors specializing in brain injury should be trained, certified and accredited through country of origin or international accreditation and certification boards and should also belong to organizations or associations of their specialty.

Check references and resources to determine whether physicians or specialists are trained, experienced and accredited with stem cell therapy treatments with his or her country of origin and that facilities provide state-of the art technology and equipment and have a well maintained, trained and educated staff.

 

If you need to know more about Stem Cell Therapy for Brain Injury, please contact us!