Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

If the devil himself were challenged to come up with a supremely insidious way to torment people he would be hard-pressed to come up with anything as devastatingly horrific as ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This neurodegenerative disease (also referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease") is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. The end result is a gradual loss of various or virtually all motor abilities such as the ability to move about, swallow and even breathe. Some sufferers develop frontotemporal dementia. The appearance of symptoms and rate of progression varies somewhat from person-to-person and appears linked to genetic influences.

StemCell.MD and its affiliated clinics both in the US and abroad employ a number of modalities to slow ALS progression and amplify existing motor functioning. Among the clinical tools utilized is a diet specific for the condition. Our physicians also draw on novel, leading edge science such as this experimental regimen that has slowed ALS disease progression.

The question naturally arises: "Can stem cells do anything for ALS?"

The answer is a definite "yes." You can click this link to access a sampling of published research concerning human umbilical cord stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymals and ALS. In addition, a simple search of this government website that focuses on clinical trials will turn up many studies some of which are recruiting patients right now. For instance, Emory ALS Center is conducting an on-going phase I trial of spinal cord derived stem cells for patients with ALS. On their website it is noted that "We have now completed five patient surgeries and we can report that all are doing well as of this date. Three patients received unilateral injections, and two patients received bilateral injections into the spinal cord. We are preparing for one additional patient to undergo bilateral injections (group 2A). In addition, we are now recruiting for Group B (3 patients). Patients participating in Group B will have difficulty walking, but be able to walk without the assistance of another person and have good breathing function. The selection criteria for participants for group B are listed below."

The difficulty with most clinical studies is getting into them. Many have criteria which excludes many ALS sufferers. Others are being held at overseas clinical sites that would prove daunting for some ALS patients to reach.

There is a viable alternative: Namely, a major clinic located in southern California that has been doing legal bone marrow stem cell treatments for many years now. This body of clinical work includes bone marrow infusions for ALS, a treatment that in conjunction with other, complementary ones has produced notable improvements in many patients. You can learn all about this clinic by clicking this link or by calling 1-949-367-8870 or by using this on-line contact form which can be readily accessed by clicking this link.

In addition, StemCell.MD works with clinics in Mexico that have been successfully doing adult (non-embryonic) stem cell treatments for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases for many years now. You can learn more by calling 1-800-288-7016 (8 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. If you call before or after business hours, please leave a message and someone on StemCell.MD's staff will get back to you as soon as possible) or e-mailing us at info@stemcell.md.