Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. It is a progressive brain disorder, which means damage worsens and/or spreads over time. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, protein deposits referred to as “plaques” build up in between nerve cells much more rapidly than in normal aging. Tangles, or twisted fibers that build up inside dead and dying nerve cells, also develop at a faster rate. These two factors typically follow a pattern in which the areas most critical for memory are affected first, followed by a progressive spread to other regions. Damaged nerve cells are then unable to properly transmit electrical signals within the brains, which are responsible for memories and individual thoughts.

The rate of Alzheimer’s disease progression is unique to each patient. Symptoms can vary greatly, depending on factors such as age and any other existing health issues. Memory issues are among the first symptoms to arise, but non-memory aspects of cognition including impaired reasoning, challenges with word-finding, and vision or spatial issues may also indicate early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Today’s Treatment

Researchers are working to learn more about plaques, tangles, and other aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. While it is not currently known what causes the disease, it is believed to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Generally, Alzheimer’s disease strikes older adults, and scientists are exploring how age-related changes such as inflammation and the production of free radicals could contribute to the condition. Medications are available to help treat symptoms by regulating neurotransmitters, but they cannot change the underlying disease processes.

Regenerative Medicine Therapy

While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, Regenerative Medicine therapies are increasingly being studied as a potential opportunity for an alternative option. Treatments such as stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease have been studied to help the body’s natural repair kit work more effectively in chronic conditions. For example, by introducing stem cells into the bloodstream and through methods that target brain tissues, damaged nerve cell pathways have the potential to be encouraged to regenerate.

Stem cells are unique in their ability to replicate various cells in the body, including nerve cells. They can also reproduce at a rapid rate, which is especially beneficial in conditions for which there is currently no cure. Research and studies indicate that stem cells not only have the potential to regenerate lost or damaged brain tissue but that they can also temporarily modulate the immune system, thereby disabling the abnormal attack.

Potential improvements have been studied to include:

• Slowing or decreasing the rate of disease progression
• Enhanced behavior and mood
• Increased energy
• Reduction of confusion
• Boosted memory and cognitive performance

While aging is among the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive diseases, regenerative medicine therapy offers the potential to help individuals restore hope in managing their conditions. By spurring the restoration of diseased and dying tissue and addressing abnormal immune responses, treatments such as stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s disease have potential in terms of addressing symptoms and yielding noticeable improvements.

Regenerative Medicine is still considered an experimental procedure and not approved by the FDA. Patients must consider realistic expectations in their research and possible therapy options.