Stem Cell Therapy for Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a spectrum of disorders characterized by marked abnormalities in communication and social interactions.
Two common consistent findings are associated in children with this disorder:
- 1) diminished oxygenation in specific areas of the brain and
- 2) a chronic immunologically mediated inflammatory condition in the gut.
What is the rationale behind using stem cells to treat autism?
| Twin boys improve after stem cell therapy Millie Jimenez |
Community Outreach: Miami, FL – 2011 Juliana Ubinas |
Current investigative therapies for autism attempt to reverse these abnormalities through administration of antibiotics, anti‐inflammatory agents, and hyperbaric oxygen. Unfortunately, none of these approaches address the root causes of oxygen deprivation and intestinal inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells can regulate the immune system. It is thought that they may help to reverse inflammatory conditions and is currently in the final stages of clinical trials in the US for Crohn’s disease, a condition resembling the gut inflammation in autistic children. The CD34 stem cells have been shown to induce generation of new blood vessels in tissue that lacks oxygen. It is thought that these stem cells may help increase the blood flow in the temporal region of the brain, an area that is believed to be inadequately oxygenated in autistic children.
Through administration of mesenchymal and CD34 stem cells, we have observed improvement in patients treated at our facilities. The biological basis for our scientists in the peer published treatment method reviewed in the “Journal of Translational Medicine”.
Which types of stem cells are used to treat autism and how are they obtained?
The adult stem cells used to treat autism at the Stem Cell Institute come from expanded and fresh human umbilical cord (allogeneic mesenchymal and CD34+). These stem cells are recovered from donated umbilical cords. Before they are approved for treatment all umbilical cord-derived stem cells are screened for viruses and bacteria to International Blood Bank Standards.
Umbilical cord-derived stem cells are ideal for the treatment of autism because they allow our physicians to administer uniform doses and they do not require any stem cell collection from the patient, which for autistic children and their parents, can be an arduous process. Because they are collected right after (normal) birth, umbilical cord-derived cells are much more potent than their “older” counterparts like bone marrow-derived cells for instance. These stem cells pose no rejection risk because the body does not recognize them as foreign.
How are the stem cells administered for autism treatment?
The umbilical cord-derived stem cells are administered intravenously by a licensed physician. Depending upon the age and physical size of the patient, the stem cells might also be administered intrathecally (into the spinal fluid) by an experienced anesthesiologist. Intrathecal injection allows the stem cells to bypass the blood-brain barrier and migrate throughout the central nervous system.
The autism treatment protocol typically takes 5 days.
STEM CELL TREATMENT – AUTISM: PROTOCOL OUTLINE
Option 1:
- • Treatment length (Monday – Friday): 5 days
- • 4 intravenous infusions of expanded/non-expanded donor mesenchymal and CD34+ stem cells
Option 2:
- • Treatment length (Monday – Friday): 5 days
- • 2 intravenous infusions of expanded/non-expanded donor mesenchymal and CD34+ stem cells
- • 2 intrathecal infusions of expanded/non-expanded donor mesenchymal and CD34+ stem cells
What about follow-up after we return home from Panama?
Proper follow-up is an essential part of the autism treatment process. Our primary goal is to ensure that your child is progressing safely. Regular follow-up also enables us to evaluate efficacy and improve our autism treatment protocols based on observed outcomes.
Therefore, our medical staff will be contacting you after 1 month, 3 months, 4 months, and 1 year to monitor your child’s progress.
May I speak with the parents of any successfully treated patients?
| Community Outreach: San Diego, CA (Mar. 2011) Victoria |
Stem Cells Doing Wonders for Autistic Boy Kenneth Kelley |
Yes, you may. Once your child has been evaluated and approved for treatment by our medical team, your patient coordinator will be happy to put you in touch with a few.
We also welcome you to view testimonials, news articles and videos from treated autism patients on our autism patient experiences page. Please take a look!
How do I request more information?
You may contact us by telephone 1 (800) 980-STEM (toll-free in US) and 1 (954) 636-3390 or by web-based inquiry form.
To find out if you are eligible, Apply for Treatment Today:
To apply for stem cell treatment, please complete this Patient Application Form.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES:
Stem Cell Therapy for Autism
Ichim T, Solano F, Glenn E, Morales F, Smith L, Zabrecky G, Riordan Neil.
– Journal of Translational Medicine 2007, 5:30
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