Over 700,000 Americans annually face some kind of stroke or the other. Over 85% of such incidents are ischemic strokes affecting adults aged 60 and above. It is only pertinent to say that the chance of having a stroke rises significantly with age.

According to the CDC, every 40 seconds, an American gets a stroke, out of which only 5% are known to recover fully. Most continue to suffer from long-term effects of stroke, including persistent weakness, chronic pain, and even epilepsy. While there have been a number of ongoing research studies to better the condition of stroke survivors, medicos continue to rely on symptomatic treatment.

Only recently, a team of scientists at the Gladstone Institute working with SanBio regenerative medicine company has shown a breakthrough in stem cell therapy. The findings of the study showed these new stem cells are capable of restoring normal brain activity patterns in individuals affected by a stroke. Conventional stem cell therapy requires immediate administering after a stroke for maximum benefit. However, these stem cells can have the same effect even after a month, as observed in rats during the experiment.

The study, originally published in the “Molecular Theory” journal, is undoubtedly a significant one. This is because, to date, there’s no treatment available where a stroke survivor can be administered stem cell therapy after a few weeks to prevent unwanted effects. This article offers insight into the findings of the study and explains how this new stem cell therapy can improve life for stroke survivors. Keep reading!

Fighting Brain Hyperexcitability

An ischemic stroke impairs the blood flow to a certain part of the brain, either due to a clot or narrowing blood vessels. In turn, the brain cells are deprived of necessary nutrients and oxygen. So, either the cells die or alter their activities, leading to lifelong conditions like epilepsy.

Such damaged brain cells often exhibit hyperexcitability, sending out random signals that can be either too strong or too frequent for other regions of the brain. It is this hyperexcitability that bears a close relationship with seizures and movement issues. Sadly, there’s no treatment available to reverse the effect.

The new study on stem cell therapy uses stem cells from SanBio, where they experimented on rats for a month after the occurrence of stroke. The modified human stem cells were injected into the brains of rats closer to the injury site. In weeks that followed, the scientists measured the ongoing electrical activity in the brains and analyzed individual molecules and cells to report the following findings.

• The new stem cell therapy surprisingly reversed brain hyperexcitability in rats.
• It also restored the neural network balance.
• Additionally, it enhances the cells and proteins that are integral to brain functioning.

A principal scientist of San Bio, Barbara Klein commented on the findings of the study. According to her, the new research on stem cell therapy shows brain cells can jump-start on their own even after one slips into a chronic phase following a stroke.

Improving Inflammation and Overall Brain Health

The new study also had scientists collecting blood samples from rats at different times and analyzing the results without implementing stem cell therapy. This helped them identify a certain blood molecule combination responsible for improving brain health and inflammation. So, it was evident that the change induced by the stroke was later reversed when stem cell therapy was applied.

Repeated experiments continued to show positive outcomes, and the scientists were led to believe that the therapy could have long-lasting effects on the brain. The effect was not only limited to lowering brain hyperexcitability but also fetched other beneficial effects for all parts of the body.

The most satisfying outcome of the new research was that even a month after a stroke, the treatment has the potential to restore brain normalcy. This is indeed a much-needed sign of hope for patients reeling from chronic brain injuries without any effective treatment option.

The cells that were used in the new study were called “SB623” cells and were developed by SanBio exclusively for treating “chronic neurological motor deficits.” This is secondary for any injuries arising out of stroke as well as TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). One must know that the new treatment has already been approved in Japan and is currently being used to better the lives of patients suffering from chronic motor paralysis following traumatic brain injury.

A Cue To A Rewarding Future

More research is indeed needed to establish the effects of stem cell therapy on diminishing brain hyperexcitability induced by stem cells. However, there’s no denying how the new study widens the horizon of treatment, reducing the unwanted symptoms in stroke survivors. With other supportive treatments, this new stem cell therapy can be recommended to calm overactive or excited neurons.

Currently, SanBio is seeking approval from the FDA and pursuing indication expansion. The research team is also hopeful that the research findings will help them to understand better and explore unknown brain functions. If the researchers can pinpoint key molecules, they might be able to develop small-molecule-based drugs to mimic the efficacy of stem cells.

If you or a loved one is seeking innovative solutions for stroke recovery, contact us today to learn how our stem cell therapy services can help restore brain function and improve quality of life.