Key Factors Influencing Stem Cell Therapy Success in Autism

If you have a loved one with autism, then you may have heard how stem cell therapy can treat this condition. While it’s true that stem cell therapy can treat autism, it’s essential to understand the factors critical to the success of this therapy before deciding on treatment.

In this article, we’ll explore the basics of stem cell therapy for autism and the factors that contribute to the success of this autism treatment.

Types of Stem Cells Used

Embryonic stem cells are what most people associate with stem cell therapy. However, embryonic stem cells come with a risk of tumorigenesis and since they’re obtained from a human fetus, they come with ethical concerns. 

To avoid these safety and ethical issues, clinics such as Swiss Medica use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating autism. MSCs can be allogeneic, meaning they are obtained from a donor, or autologous, meaning they are taken from the recipient’s own tissues.

MSCs can be obtained from blood marrow, gum tissue, adipose fat tissue, an umbilical cord or placenta.

Safety and Efficacy of MSCs

While there is no such thing as an autism stem cell cure, there is plenty of research that supports the efficacy of MSCs in treating autism. Research shows that MSCs were well tolerated in children with autism and that stem cell therapy led to an improvement in core autism symptoms. 

According to research, MSCs don’t come with any major safety risks, aside from mild post-injection fever and sleeplessness.

Benefits of MSC Therapy in Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social skills, cognitive development and speech. The benefits of MSC therapy for autism vary depending on the patient, but results can include:

• Better eye contact
• Improved social skills
• Improved speech
• Improved cognition and learning ability
• Better eye contact
• Reduced anxiety

MSC therapy is not a miracle cure for autism, but 70 to 80% of patients see improvements with this autism treatment.

Mechanisms of Action

Autism is a complex disorder and stem cell therapy treats autism through several different mechanisms of action. First, MSCs differentiate into brain cells and restore and replace damaged cells in the brain. The regeneration of neurons can improve cognition function and behavioral issues.

There’s also a strong link between autism and the immune system. The immunomodulatory properties of MSCs make them effective at treating the underlying inflammation and immune system dysregulation in children with autism.

Complementary Therapies

Children with autism see the most improvements when stem cell therapy is combined with complementary therapies. For example, applied behavior analysis can improve communication skills, focus, and memory while decreasing negative behaviors.

For children with autism, speech is often an issue. The chances of stem cell therapy improving speech are greater when combined with speech therapy.

Factors Influencing Therapy Success

Age is one of the most important factors of autism treatment success. Younger patients are more likely to have successful stem cell treatment, especially if they are in the early stages of cognitive development.

MSC-derived exosome therapy can also improve the likelihood of success for stem cell therapy. Exosomes carry the same benefits as stem cells but are more effective at delivering therapeutic effects since they can communicate with other cells and influence their behavior.

Complementary therapies, dietary changes and exercise also improve the likelihood of a successful stem treatment. Stress can also limit the success of stem cell treatments, so maintaining a stress-free lifestyle for the months following treatment is important.

Pre-Treatment Assessments

If you’re looking into stem cell therapy for a child with autism, it’s crucial to find a clinic that offers detailed pretreatment evaluation. Doctors can assess your child’s specific condition and find the best course of treatment, including where to source the stem cells and the necessary quantity.

Doctors will also look for any contraindications that could make stem cell therapy unsafe for your child, such as active inflections or other chronic illnesses.

In conclusion

Stem cell therapy using MSCs holds great promise in treating autism and can even stop the progression of the disorder. MSCs are effective at treating autism due to their neurogenerative, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. 

While stem therapy improves autism in 70-80% of patients, consider the contributing factors of autism treatment success. Stem cell therapy is more effective for younger patients and when used with complementary therapies. Diet, exercise and stress management also increase the chances of successful treatment.