Stem Cell Therapy for Autism
Numerous overseas stem cell clinics offer stem cell treatments for autism despite there being no clear evidence supporting the use of such therapy in the condition. The underlying biological mechanisms behind autism, which is thought to affect just under 1% of the population, are still quite poorly understood although there has been some advancement in knowledge in recent years regarding possible hypoperfusion in the brain and immune system dysregulation in autistic patients. Whilst these mechanisms suggest possible ways that stem cells may be used to treat autism there is, as yet, no solid proof of efficacy or safety for this kind of therapy. Experimental treatments, particularly in overseas stem cell clinics that are often poorly regulated, if regulated at all, can pose significant risks to children but their parents are targeted by marketers for these clinics who know how desperate they can be to help their struggling child.
What Causes Autism?
The two main pathologies implicated in autism are hypoperfusion to the brain (inadequate blood circulation to certain brain areas) and immune system dysregulation. Recent research has also found that the incidence of autism is five-fold in children with low birth-weight (less than 4 pounds 6 ounces) compared to normal-weight infants. In a study published last year, scientists observed an association between autism and impaired mitochondrial function, along with mitochondrial DNA abnormalities including over-replication and deletions. The hope is that biomarkers, such as abnormal lymphocytic mitochondria, may be able to detect a significant risk of autism prior to the behaviors becoming apparent, thus aiding early intervention, therapy, and help for families with autistic children.
What is Autism?
Autism is a condition characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication, and an often extreme need for routine and repetition by patients. Many children with autism face a host of health problems because of poor nutrition as they become obstinate about only eating certain foods or refusing to eat at all. Some parents have success in treating their children with specific diets such as the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet, although there is no significant evidence pointing to its efficacy and the food limitations imposed by such a diet may actually further impair a child’s nutrient intake. Autistic children also often have extreme reactions to sounds, textures, and tastes. Parents may first become aware of problems in the first three years of life as developmental milestones are missed or delayed. Some children with autism grow up to be independent adults who hold down jobs, obtain degrees, and have fulfilling relationships but the majority remain dependent on parental (or other) care throughout their lives. Autistic spectrum disorder is one of the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the US, even accounting for improvements in diagnosis over the years.
Current Autism Treatments
Treatments for autism are largely centered on behavioural therapies, along with medication for anxiety and depression, and nutritional therapy. Those claiming to have successfully treated autistic children with stem cell treatment have not offered substantive proof of the efficacy of treatment and the lack of clinical trial evidence for such treatments makes the claims highly suspicious. By promoting treatments overseas these clinics detract from the work being done by legitimate stem cell scientists who are cautiously pursuing stem cell therapies for a variety of conditions. Treatment at an overseas clinic, or any previous stem cell treatment will usually disqualify a patient from participating in a clinical trial and the possibility of complications arising from direct stem cell injections into the brain should be emphasized, especially given the poor availability of follow-up medical care from clinics overseas.
Continue Reading –> How Stem Cells Might be Used to Treat Autism
