Cerebral palsy is a broad term used to describe a group of non
progressive "chronic palsies" impairing control over movements due to
brain damage. Children with CP are most likely born with the condition,
but some may acquire later during a first 3-5 years of child's life. The
disorder is generally associated with the secondary conditions such as
difficulty eating, bladder/bowel problems, seizures and learning
disabilities; which can get better or worse over time.
CP is often associated with abnormal brain development
or damage to some parts of the brain may be due to poor oxygen supply or
internal bleeding. Though it is difficult to pinpoint exact cause, the
primary Cerebral palsy causes may be genetic
abnormalities, congenital brain malformation, maternal infections or
fever etc. This damage to brain cannot be reversed with the current
treatments available. For the children with CP who struggling for the
normal life style; stem cells technology has come up as the new ray of
hope. Apart from tendency to give rise to healthy neurons; these stem
cells also has a unique ability to identify and home in the affected
area. These cells are also responsible for creation of microenvironment
and secretion of hormones for faster rejuvenation.
We all should understand that stem cell treatment is not a temporary
solution but a long term goal; through which it is possible to live in a
better way.
Symptoms
Major Manifestations of Cerebral Palsy, in patients include the following:
Signs of cerebral palsy include:
- Not blinking at loud noises by one month
- Not sitting by seven months
- Not turning head toward sounds by four months
- Not verbalizing words by 12 months
- Walking with an abnormal gait
- Seizures
Symptoms of cerebral palsy include:
- Choking,Difficulty grasping objects, Difficulty swallowing
- Fatigue, Inability to focus on objects, Inability to hear, Pain
Conventionally only supportive treatments were present to temporarily
relieve the pain or the symptoms, additionally there are many support
services available for the effective management of some activities and
programs such as day care services or nursing programs. Although the
damage in terms of death of neurons cannot be halted or reversed with
this treatment approach till the discovery of stem cells.
Stem cells are the master cells of the body, mainly differentiating into
the required type of cells upon administering a proper cocktail of
growth factors and stimulatory agents in vitro. The stem cell therapy
approach mainly focuses on delivering the sufficient number of Adult
Autologous Stem Cells which will travel into multiple areas of the brain
where the damage has occurred.These transplanted stem cells are
potential to transform into new brain cells which are needed for the
replacement of damaged cells. They also help in creating a
microenvironment that will secret some of the enzymes required for
making connections to replace lost parts of the complex network.
