by Stemedix | Mar 2, 2020 | Osteoarthritis
More than half a million people in the U.S. receive a knee replacement every year. Within just a decade, that number is projected to rise to three million. The reasons for this rapid increase span far and wide: factors like the quest to lead healthier, more active lifestyles and increasing obesity rates could all play a role in the uptick in conditions like arthritis, which manifests in the form of unrelenting knee pain. A solution researchers have been working on is stem cell therapy for knees.
Osteoarthritis, in particular, is a common condition known to affect the knees. It’s the most prevalent type of arthritis and impacts millions of individuals across the globe. In this form of arthritis, the cartilage at the end of the bones which serves as cushioning wears away. Osteoarthritis may develop over time as a result of general wear and tear, but it could also be triggered by knee injuries such as tendon damage, fracture, or a ligament tear.
Traditionally, treatments for damaged knees have included temporary fixes, such as physical therapy or medications, as well as surgical intervention. Patients have understandably yearned for a fix that’s both long-lasting and less invasive – a solution which has heretofore seemed impossible.
Yet, researchers have also been working hard to find an answer to the knee pain epidemic. And, it appears that they’ve found it in the form of stem cell therapy.
Stem Cell Therapy for Knees
A number of studies on stem cell therapy for knee pain have been performed within recent years. Researchers have refined their approaches, using various forms and combinations of stem cell preparations to determine which yield the best results, thus improving outcomes over time. Results indicate that while the joints continue to deteriorate naturally, knees that receive stem cell therapy are still in better condition than they were before – even five years later.
Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and transform into virtually any other cell type with specialized functions. Experts believe their healing effects are a result of their power to change into cartilage cells, minimize the inflammation associated with arthritis, and release powerful cytokines to control pain and slow the degenerative process.
Injuries and degenerative conditions in joints like the knees are particularly difficult to treat. In these areas, the blood supply is limited, and the body’s natural regenerative capabilities are therefore restricted. Regenerative medicine therapy such as stem cell treatment can essentially turbocharge the healing process, spurring self-recovery when injected at the site of the damage. Thus, these treatments hold promise for alleviating conditions that have not responded well to previous therapies but significantly impact the daily routines of individuals experiencing them.
by admin | Mar 2, 2020 | Alzheimer’s Disease, Health Awareness
Maintaining proper nutrition is essential for optimal health. Our bodies need more than 30 vitamins and minerals to operate, with these nutrients supporting a host of processes including:
- Tissue production and regeneration
- Red blood cell production
- Nerve signaling
- Formulating chemical messages
While getting adequate amounts of these vitamins and minerals is important for supporting key body-wide mechanisms on a daily basis, it’s also critical for safeguarding our future health. Nutrition helps us minimize the risk of many serious conditions, one of which is dementia.
Can Nutritional Deficiencies Cause Dementia?
In some elderly patients, healthy dietary practices aren’t always
closely followed. This can lead to certain nutritional deficiencies, which can
actually cause cognitive impairment over time. Research shows certain forms of dementia
can be a direct result of deficiencies in specific vitamins, minerals, or
other nutrients. Here are a few nutrients in particular that are necessary for
cognitive function:
- Vitamin B12: Without ample B12, the frontal lobes of the brain become altered, resulting in cognitive or behavioral changes. The vitamin, therefore, supports brain health while playing an important role in maintaining healthy blood and nerve cells. It also aids in the production of DNA. Animal food sources are often rich in B12, including dairy and meat.
- Niacin: B3 or niacin helps to control cholesterol levels. Elderly individuals are especially at risk of developing pellagra, a B3 deficiency characterized by dementia, dermatitis, and diarrhea. Enriched cereals, seeds, poultry, and redfish are good sources of the vitamin.
- Thiamin: Also known as vitamin B1, a deficiency in thiamin can cause damage to the nerves and muscles, including the heart. Thiamin also has such a profound effect on cognitive function that some researchers speculate the vitamin could benefit Alzheimer’s patients, but further studies are needed to support this theory. Thiamin is commonly found in eggs, nuts, seeds, beef, and enriched grain products, such as cereals.
In addition, insufficient hydration
can lead to nutrition-oriented dementia.
Beyond cognitive symptoms,
nutritional deficiencies may also manifest physically in the following ways:
- Sensorimotor challenges
- Poor reflexes
- Extreme thirst
- Anemia
- Numbed sense of touch
- Gastrointestinal issues
Fortunately, these and other nutrition-oriented symptoms can
be avoided with a healthy,
well-rounded diet. In addition, certain individuals may benefit from
supplements if key nutrients can’t be acquired through diet alone. Talk to your
doctor if you think you could benefit from a supplement regimen.
by admin | Feb 27, 2020
WHAT IS PRP Therapy Regenerative Medicine, also known as PRP therapy, is an alternative option to help manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal and joint pain. Request Information Packet WHAT IS PRP Therapy Regenerative Medicine, also known as PRP therapy, is an...
by admin | Feb 26, 2020 | Alzheimer’s Disease, Exosomes
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia, which means its symptoms get worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease primarily affects memory. People with Alzheimer’s disease first have trouble recalling recent memories, but they eventually lose memories of things that occurred earlier in life. Alzheimer’s disease can also cause irritability, social disengagement, and problems performing tasks of daily living. As the disease worsens, it becomes increasingly difficult to care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and most eventually require full-time care. This article is on an Alzheimer’s Disease study that may bring hope to those seeking an alternative to help manage symptoms or halt progression.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Treatments include cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine) or memantine. These drugs may slightly improve cognition or temporarily slow the disease, but they do little to change the overall course of the disease or truly alleviate symptoms. Since Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5 million people in the United States alone, researchers are aggressively pursuing ways to treat the cause of dementia.
The precise cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown;
however, the brains of people with the disease have very high levels of a
protein called beta-amyloid. This protein can cause inflammation, which is
damaging to brain tissue and believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease
symptoms.
In the race for a cure, researchers tested the effects of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells in mice with experimental Alzheimer’s disease study. Without treatment, these Alzheimer’s disease mice have difficulty with various tests of memory and cognition compared to healthy mice of the same age. Astonishingly, mice treated with exosomes retrieved from mesenchymal stem cells showed remarkable improvements in tests of spatial learning, memory, and cognition (e.g. modified Morris water-maze). The exosomes reduced the levels of beta-amyloid protein and beta-amyloid plaques in regions of the brain responsible for learning and memory. The researchers found that these exosomes, taken from the human umbilical cord, contained high amounts of enzymes that break down beta-amyloid proteins. Indeed, treatment with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes reduced brain inflammation (i.e., the exosomes reduced inflammatory cells and inflammatory cytokines). These results apparently indicate treatment with stem cell-derived exosomes reduced brain inflammation, reduced brain beta-amyloid, and improved learning and memory in experimental mice.
More studies will need to be performed in humans to continue
research of this treatment and impact in human cases. Nevertheless, given the
lack of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, these results are quite impressive.
Few treatments, if any, improve memory or reduce beta-amyloid levels and brain
inflammation. At best, patients currently hope to slow the progression of the
disease and ease symptoms.
Reference: Ding M.
et al. (2018). Exosomes Isolated from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem
Cells Alleviate Neuroinflammation and Reduce Amyloid-Beta Deposition by
Modulating Microglial Activation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurochemical
Research. 2018, Nov;43(11):2165-2177.
by Stemedix | Feb 25, 2020 | Stem Cell Therapy
For millions of people across the globe, orthopedic issues cause discomfort, limited mobility, and other frustrating symptoms which make it challenging to participate in daily activities. Osteoarthritis, for example, affects the joints by wearing away the cushiony cartilage between bones. While the prevalence of the condition is on the rise, conventional treatments are still lacking: patients are often required to choose between temporary fixes such as medications to mask the pain or invasive surgical procedures. And, this isn’t isolated to osteoarthritis; patients with other orthopedic issues face similar dilemmas. For those suffering, there are several benefits of stem cell therapy for orthopedic issues.
This treatment involves the targeted administration of stem cells, which can self-renew and transform into virtually any cell type in the body. Researchers believe they hold tremendous healing potential for orthopedic issues due to their abilities to change into cartilage cells, minimize inflammation, and release cytokines to reduce pain and slow the degenerative process.
Below, discover some of the benefits of stem cell therapy for orthopedic issues, as well as the types of conditions they can treat.
Common Orthopedic Conditions Treated with Stem Cell Therapy
The potential applications for stem cell therapy span far and wide. Not only have they been used to treat orthopedic conditions, but they’re also used for patients with neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions.
Some of the specific orthopedic issues being treated by stem cell therapy include:
· Osteoarthritis
· Sports and athletic injuries
· Musculoskeletal injuries
· Spinal cord injuries
· Degenerative disc disease
Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Orthopedic Issues
There are many advantages to stem cell therapy. Here are just a few of the most noteworthy benefits to consider:
· Reduced pain and inflammation
· The ability to delay or prevent the need for invasive surgery
· Increased healing potential
· An all-natural treatment
· Safe and effective
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, this regenerative therapy can give new hope to patients who haven’t seen results from other treatment methods. Stem cell treatment could help to restore mobility, alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall quality of life — outcomes which may have previously seemed unattainable to patients with orthopedic issues.
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