Success Rate of Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: Procedure Overview, Research Findings, and Patients’ Insights

Living with Parkinson's disease—or watching a loved one endure its daily challenges—can be an emotional and physical rollercoaster. Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. With over 10 million people affected worldwide, the search for an effective treatment is more urgent than ever.

Stem cell therapy has a focal point in that search, but how well does it really work? In this article, we’ll take a look at stem cell therapy for Parkinson's, breaking down success rates, the latest research, and real-life patient stories.

What Are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Therapy?
How Can Stem Cells Help with Parkinson's Disease?
Research and Clinical Trial Results
Patients’ Reviews About Stem Cell Therapy
Risks and Side Effects
The Procedure: What to Expect
How to Maximize the Success of Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease?
Takeaways
FAQ

What Are Stem Cells and Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cells are like the body's raw materials—they have a unique ability to transform into different types of cells, such as muscle, blood, or brain cells. This versatility makes them incredibly valuable in medical treatments. In the context of Parkinson's disease, the idea is to use stem cells to replace or repair the damaged brain cells responsible for the symptoms.

Cell therapy introduces these stem cells into the brain, where they can grow into healthy, functioning brain cells. While it's still an emerging field, stem cell-based therapy offers a promising path forward in tackling conditions previously thought untreatable.

How Can Stem Cells Help with Parkinson's Disease?

To understand how stem cells might work for Parkinson's, it's important to first grasp what's happening in the brain affected by the disease.

🤔 What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It starts gradually, often with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand, and progresses to more severe symptoms that interfere with daily life.

🤔 What are the symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's motor symptoms can vary but often include:

tremors;
muscle stiffness;
slowed movement;
balance problems.

These symptoms result from the brain's inability to control movement properly. As the disease advances, non-motor symptoms like sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive decline can also occur.

🤔 What are the causes of Parkinson’s?

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease remains unclear, but many researchers believe it results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins. While genetics can play a role, the disease rarely runs in families.

🚨 Risk factors. The biggest risk factor for developing Parkinson’s is advancing age, with the average age of onset being around 60. As people get older, the risk of developing the disease increases. However, 10-20% percent of Parkinson’s cases are linked to genetic causes, especially in younger PD patients.

🧠 Biological cause. Parkinson’s disease involves the degeneration of neuronal cells in the brain. Healthy neurons produce dopamine—a chemical that transmits signals coordinating smooth and controlled movements. As these dopamine-producing cells die off, the brain's ability to regulate movement deteriorates, leading to the symptoms associated with Parkinson's.

🤔 How can stem cells help?

For Parkinson's disease, stem cell therapies aim to replace dopamine-producing neurons that are lost as the disease progresses.

Scientists can guide stem cells to become these specific neurons in the lab and then transplant them into the patient's brain. The transplanted cells can:

🧠 Produce dopamine. The newly introduced neurons can start producing dopamine, the chemical needed for smooth, controlled movements.
🔗 Restore neural pathways. They can establish new connections within the brain, restoring some of the lost communication between neurons.
🛡️ Provide neuroprotection. Stem cells can release protective factors that support the survival of existing neurons, potentially slowing the progression of the disease.
🔥 Reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the brain contributes to Parkinson's symptoms. Stem cells can release bioactive molecules, such as cytokines and growth factors, that have anti-inflammatory properties. They help modulate the immune system's response, calming the overactive immune cells in the brain that contribute to inflammation.
⏳ Slow down disease progression. Current treatments for Parkinson's, like medication and deep brain stimulation, primarily manage symptoms without addressing the root cause. By replenishing the brain's supply of dopamine-producing cells and protecting existing neurons, stem cell therapy could slow the disease's progression and offer patients long-term relief.
💊 Reduce dependency on medication. Long-term use of Parkinson’s medications can lead to severe side effects, including dyskinesia (involuntary movements) and psychosis. Stem cell therapies might reduce or even eliminate the need for these drugs. By doing so, it can help prolong independence, enhance the quality of life, and alleviate patients’ anxiety.

Parkinson's Stem Cell Treatment: Research and Clinical Trial Results

To gauge the success of stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease, it's essential to look at recent research and clinical trials. While this field is still relatively new, studies already show positive results. Let's look at some key findings from recent clinical studies.

📈 Safety and symptom improvements

A meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials involving 210 Parkinson’s patients showed that a significant proportion of patients (86.5% to 100%) responded positively to the therapy.
A clinical trial by BlueRock Therapeutics found that stem cell therapies are safe for patients with advanced Parkinson's, with minimal side effects.
Specialized imaging has shown that injected stem cells can survive and successfully integrate with the brain's existing neural cells.
In the same clinical trial, 11 out of 12 patients experienced motor symptom improvement after stem cell treatment.
A phase IIA study tested the effects of injecting stem cells from bone marrow. The therapy showed noticeable improvement in patients' motor symptoms when not on medication, as measured by a standard symptom severity scale (UPDRS). This indicates that stem cell treatment can enhance motor functions without medication support.
In a notable case study, a patient receiving infusions of mesenchymal stem cells showed notable improvements in symptoms. After the first 10 infusions, the patient showed better posture, less frequent freezing, and no tremors. The UPDRS motor function score improved from 14 to 2. Severe dyskinesia was eliminated, going from 7 to 1.

⌛ Effectiveness over time

Improvements in motor function, such as reduced tremors, muscle stiffness, and better movement control, were observed consistently across different follow-up periods, ranging from 3 months to over 3 years.

☀️ Impact on daily life

Stem cell therapy significantly improved Parkinson’s patients' ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) when off medication.
In the case study, the patient could discontinue several medications and reduce others by 25% after stem cell therapy.
Following the treatment, the patient no longer required a 24-hour caregiver. She regained independence and could perform daily tasks like meal preparation and household chores without assistance.

🎭 Non-motor symptoms

The meta-analysis contained reports of improved mood, sleep, and cognitive function after stem cell therapy.
In the case study, the patient gained cognitive function, satisfaction with social roles, and the ability to keep up with work responsibilities. Anxiety scores improved from 23 to 19, and feelings of exhaustion decreased.
In the BlueRock Therapeutics clinical trial, Parkinson’s patients showed positive results in neuropsychological evaluations, including cognitive functioning and frontal-lobe behaviors. There were signs of enhanced immediate and delayed memory.

Patients’ Reviews About Stem Cell Therapy

Nothing speaks louder about the impact of stem cell therapy than the experiences of the patients themselves.

🎞️ See the real stories of patients who underwent stem cell therapy for Parkinson's disease at top clinics:

🏥 The patient suffering from Parkinson's underwent stem cell treatment after a stroke at Reju Medical Clinic (Medellín, Colombia):

Colombia, Medellín

0. Reju Medical Clinic

92% patients recommend

Reju Medical is a private multi-specialty medical center located in Medellín, Colombia. The team is dedicated to Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetology, and Longevity health. At REJU, your safety is our number one priority. The skilled and caring medical providers will bring patients' disposal a wealth of experience in stem cell applications and therapies. The procedure will be performed only with very experienced medical professionals with a minimum of 15 years of experience in the field.

They will take a hands-on approach to adapting and altering patients' stem cell requirements to minimize pain wherever possible and increase comfort levels during recovery.

Reju Medical serves both adults and children. 350 patients choose Reju Medical to get medical care every year. Patients from the USA, Canada, and Australia visit the clinic most often.