Parkinson’s disease: fetal cell or stem cell derived treatments

What you need to knowNeural transplantation with fetal cell or stem cell therapy is being evaluated as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, especially in younger people and those who previously responded to levodopaStem cell therapy has not yet been evaluated clinicallyHowever, there is currently insufficient evidence that such therapy improves clinical outcomes, although larger trials are in progressCan Parkinson’s disease now be cured by fetal or stem cell therapy? Media stories of these new treatments are common.1 The main disease process in Parkinson’s disease is progressive loss of cells that produce dopamine from the substantia nigra in the brainstem. Treatment aims to replace or compensate for the lost dopamine. Levodopa and dopamine agonists have been the mainstay of treatment for years, but because side effects (such as dyskinesias) often develop or the effects of the drugs wear off, other treatments have been sought. Deep brain stimulation into the pallidum or subthalamic nucleus may also …