How YOUR Own Stem Cells Can Support Your Brain
- The Brain Cannot Regenerate – So we were told
- Many Observations Suggested Otherwise
- Stem Cells Can Form New Brain Cells
- Stem Cells Can Improve The Outcome Of A Stroke
- What About Spinal Cord Injury?
- The Promise of Stem Cell Research
- Simple ESCM For Spinal Cord Injury
The Brain Cannot Regenerate – So we were told
The traditional view, expressed by Nobel Prize Laureate and neurology pioneer Ramon y Cajal, was that the brain does not have the ability to regenerate after birth.[1] According to this view, we are born with a set number of neurons and we are doomed to slowly and helplessly lose our brain capacity with each passing year of our lives. As is often the case in science, the prestige of Cajal as a scientist left a profound impression that largely contributed to maintaining that belief for a long time, in spite of repeated evidence to the contrary.
Many Observations Suggested Otherwise
For example, soon after the discovery of DNA by Crick and Watson in 1953, compounds were developed that tag DNA and using such compounds it was observed that new cells were being formed in some areas of the brain.[2]
In the early 1980s, F. Nottebohm and his team observed that the area of the brain controlling the vocal chords of male canaries showed seasonal neurogenesis (creation of new neurons) with a dramatic increase in the number of neurons during the singing season and then soon after, a dramatic die-off when the season was over;[3] again suggesting that the brain is capable of generating new neurons.
Stem Cells Can Form New Brain Cells
The magnitude of this phenomenon was finally revealed when stem cells were observed to have the ability of migrating into the brain and forming new brain cells. These observations originally came from studies in which scientists looked at female patients that had received bone-marrow transplants from male donors for the treatment of leukemia. By assessing for the presence of the Y-chromosome, which would only be found in cells that emerged from the donor’s transplanted stem cells, Y-chromosome positive cells were found in most tissues, including the brain.[4] In one study, this phenomenon was quantified, with Y-chromosome positive neurons accounted for up to 1% of all neurons in the brain, six years after bone marrow transplant.[5] So in the absence of any injury, the formation of new neurons in the brain could amount in one’s lifetime to an estimated 13% of the brain.
So if the brain can repair, and stem cells appear to be a source of new brain cells, the focus rapidly morphed into a search for methods of tapping into the potential of adult stem cells for various brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as strokes.
STEMREGEN is a proprietary blend of natural ingredients documented to support stem cell release and migration. It assists the body’s natural repair and renewal system.
Stem Cells Can Improve The Outcome Of A Stroke
A stroke is caused by a blockage or rupture of the cerebral artery, which leads to the death of parts of the brain. Typically, the death of certain areas of the brain leads to significant motor and cognitive deficits that dramatically reduce one’s quality of life. There are a number of treatments available that can reduce the severity of the consequences of a stroke, but to be effective, such treatments must be provided within a few hours after its incidence. For the majority of individuals suffering from a stroke, the prognosis is rather bleak with very slow progress. However, recent advances in stem cell research could offer promising options to stroke patients.
Early work involving embryonic stem cells provided promising results, but the high level of tumor formation made it impossible to move forward with clinical applications in humans. The focus rapidly turned to adult stem cells (ASC) where positive results were also quickly reported. When injected into the brain after a stroke, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) migrate to the site of the injury, significantly improve cerebral blood flow and accelerate the recovery of the blood-brain barrier.[6] But the injection of stem cells in the brain requires sophisticated medical intervention with direct access to the brain. Alternatively, when ASC were simply injected into the bloodstream, surprisingly this simple approach led to the significant recovery of motor and cognitive function in stroke patients.[7] Likewise, the simple stimulation of Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization, the release of one’s own stem cells, has also allowed for substantial recovery from the consequences of a stroke.[8],[9],[10],[11]
Similar results were obtained with Parkinson’s Disease, with injections of both BMSCs in the bloodstream[12] and ESCM.[13] Likewise, benefits have also been reported with Alzheimer’s disease.[14],[15]
What About Spinal Cord Injury?
If one were asked to name a problem for which medicine had no answers, spinal cord injury would be at the top of the list. We need only to think of Christopher Reeves to understand this. When someone has a spinal cord lesion, there is not much we can do to improve or mitigate the resulting handicap of the accident, which is determined by the part of the spinal cord that has been impacted. To summarize the situation, a top neurologist at the main spinal cord injury center in Toledo, Spain, stated that “Everyone who has a spinal cord injury in Spain goes to Toledo, but not for treatment, they go there to learn how to live with their problem.”
The Promise of Stem Cell Research
Of all areas of medicine, spinal cord injury is probably the condition where stem cell research has brought the greatest promise. As soon as adult stem cells (ACSs) were documented as having significant regenerative potential, scientists began working on methods to use ASCs for spinal cord lesions. At first, stem cells isolated from dental pulp and hair follicles were used, as they contain markers for neurons. In various models of spinal cord injury, injected of these stem cells in the spinal cord led to a recovery of mobility within a few weeks.[16],[17],[18] A group of scientists that used stem cells extracted from the bone marrow documented that the stem cells had formed bundles of neuronal tissue bridging the spinal cord at the site of injury.[19]
Simple ESCM For Spinal Cord Injury
In one study, significant benefits were reported by simply stimulating the release of stem cells from the bone marrow. After 5 weeks, ESCM improved locomotion, muscle reflexes, and hind limb sensitivity when compared to control group. Close analysis of the spinal cords showed the formation of new neurons and white matter at the site of the injury.[20] Although the results were not as pronounced as those with a direct injection of BMSCs into the spinal cord, due to the simplicity and safety of the approach, mobilization of stem cells from the bone marrow may constitute the most promising approach for spinal cord injury.
A preliminary trial using a natural herbal mobilizer of BMSCs taken orally showed comparable promising results. Eight quadriplegics with cervical injuries 4 to 14 years old were provided an extract of the aquatic botanical Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), which has been shown to support the release of stem cells form the bone marrow.[21] After 4 months of consumption, two of the participants began experiencing new sensations in their legs. After six months, one of the participants showed significant leg movement for the first time in 14 years; to such an extent that it warranted the initiation of physical therapy.[22]
While the conclusion is not to tout a universal cure for afflictions of the nervous system, the emergence of stem cell research definitely offers great promises for conditions for which medicine currently has very little to offer. In the meantime, ESCM remains a simple and promising approach that is relatively inexpensive, safe and accessible to anyone.
The Brain Cannot Regenerate – So we were told
The traditional view, expressed by Nobel Prize Laureate and neurology pioneer Ramon y Cajal, was that the brain does not have the ability to regenerate after birth.[1] According to this view, we are born with a set number of neurons and we are doomed to slowly and helplessly lose our brain capacity with each passing year of our lives. As is often the case in science, the prestige of Cajal as a scientist left a profound impression that largely contributed to maintaining that belief for a long time, in spite of repeated evidence to the contrary.
Many Observations Suggested Otherwise
For example, soon after the discovery of DNA by Crick and Watson in 1953, compounds were developed that tag DNA and using such compounds it was observed that new cells were being formed in some areas of the brain.[2]
In the early 1980s, F. Nottebohm and his team observed that the area of the brain controlling the vocal chords of male canaries showed seasonal neurogenesis (creation of new neurons) with a dramatic increase in the number of neurons during the singing season and then soon after, a dramatic die-off when the season was over;[3] again suggesting that the brain is capable of generating new neurons.
Stem Cells Can Form New Brain Cells
The magnitude of this phenomenon was finally revealed when stem cells were observed to have the ability of migrating into the brain and forming new brain cells. These observations originally came from studies in which scientists looked at female patients that had received bone-marrow transplants from male donors for the treatment of leukemia. By assessing for the presence of the Y-chromosome, which would only be found in cells that emerged from the donor’s transplanted stem cells, Y-chromosome positive cells were found in most tissues, including the brain.[4] In one study, this phenomenon was quantified, with Y-chromosome positive neurons accounted for up to 1% of all neurons in the brain, six years after bone marrow transplant.[5] So in the absence of any injury, the formation of new neurons in the brain could amount in one’s lifetime to an estimated 13% of the brain.
So if the brain can repair, and stem cells appear to be a source of new brain cells, the focus rapidly morphed into a search for methods of tapping into the potential of adult stem cells for various brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as strokes.
STEMREGEN is a proprietary blend of natural ingredients documented to support stem cell release and migration. It assists the body’s natural repair and renewal system.
Stem Cells Can Improve The Outcome Of A Stroke
A stroke is caused by a blockage or rupture of the cerebral artery, which leads to the death of parts of the brain. Typically, the death of certain areas of the brain leads to significant motor and cognitive deficits that dramatically reduce one’s quality of life. There are a number of treatments available that can reduce the severity of the consequences of a stroke, but to be effective, such treatments must be provided within a few hours after its incidence. For the majority of individuals suffering from a stroke, the prognosis is rather bleak with very slow progress. However, recent advances in stem cell research could offer promising options to stroke patients.
Early work involving embryonic stem cells provided promising results, but the high level of tumor formation made it impossible to move forward with clinical applications in humans. The focus rapidly turned to adult stem cells (ASC) where positive results were also quickly reported. When injected into the brain after a stroke, bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) migrate to the site of the injury, significantly improve cerebral blood flow and accelerate the recovery of the blood-brain barrier.[6] But the injection of stem cells in the brain requires sophisticated medical intervention with direct access to the brain. Alternatively, when ASC were simply injected into the bloodstream, surprisingly this simple approach led to the significant recovery of motor and cognitive function in stroke patients.[7] Likewise, the simple stimulation of Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization, the release of one’s own stem cells, has also allowed for substantial recovery from the consequences of a stroke.[8],[9],[10],[11]
Similar results were obtained with Parkinson’s Disease, with injections of both BMSCs in the bloodstream[12] and ESCM.[13] Likewise, benefits have also been reported with Alzheimer’s disease.[14],[15]
What About Spinal Cord Injury?
If one were asked to name a problem for which medicine had no answers, spinal cord injury would be at the top of the list. We need only to think of Christopher Reeves to understand this. When someone has a spinal cord lesion, there is not much we can do to improve or mitigate the resulting handicap of the accident, which is determined by the part of the spinal cord that has been impacted. To summarize the situation, a top neurologist at the main spinal cord injury center in Toledo, Spain, stated that “Everyone who has a spinal cord injury in Spain goes to Toledo, but not for treatment, they go there to learn how to live with their problem.”
The Promise of Stem Cell Research
Of all areas of medicine, spinal cord injury is probably the condition where stem cell research has brought the greatest promise. As soon as adult stem cells (ACSs) were documented as having significant regenerative potential, scientists began working on methods to use ASCs for spinal cord lesions. At first, stem cells isolated from dental pulp and hair follicles were used, as they contain markers for neurons. In various models of spinal cord injury, injected of these stem cells in the spinal cord led to a recovery of mobility within a few weeks.[16],[17],[18] A group of scientists that used stem cells extracted from the bone marrow documented that the stem cells had formed bundles of neuronal tissue bridging the spinal cord at the site of injury.[19]
Simple ESCM For Spinal Cord Injury
In one study, significant benefits were reported by simply stimulating the release of stem cells from the bone marrow. After 5 weeks, ESCM improved locomotion, muscle reflexes, and hind limb sensitivity when compared to control group. Close analysis of the spinal cords showed the formation of new neurons and white matter at the site of the injury.[20] Although the results were not as pronounced as those with a direct injection of BMSCs into the spinal cord, due to the simplicity and safety of the approach, mobilization of stem cells from the bone marrow may constitute the most promising approach for spinal cord injury.
A preliminary trial using a natural herbal mobilizer of BMSCs taken orally showed comparable promising results. Eight quadriplegics with cervical injuries 4 to 14 years old were provided an extract of the aquatic botanical Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), which has been shown to support the release of stem cells form the bone marrow.[21] After 4 months of consumption, two of the participants began experiencing new sensations in their legs. After six months, one of the participants showed significant leg movement for the first time in 14 years; to such an extent that it warranted the initiation of physical therapy.[22]
While the conclusion is not to tout a universal cure for afflictions of the nervous system, the emergence of stem cell research definitely offers great promises for conditions for which medicine currently has very little to offer. In the meantime, ESCM remains a simple and promising approach that is relatively inexpensive, safe and accessible to anyone.
Click to expand sources (1 to 10)
[1] Cajal SR and May RT. (1959) Degeneration and regeneration of the nervous system. New York, NY: Hafner. p. 750.
[2] Altman J and Chorover SL. (1963) Autoradiographic investigation of the distribution and utilization of intraventricularly injected adenine-3H, uracil-3H and thymidine-3H in the brains of cats. J Physiol. 1963 Dec;169:770-9.
[3] Neurons generated in the adult brain are recruited into functional circuits.
Paton JA, Nottebohm FN.
Science. 1984 Sep 7;225(4666):1046-8.
[4] Transplanted bone marrow generates new neurons in human brains.
Mezey E, Key S, Vogelsang G, Szalayova I, Lange GD, Crain B.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Feb 4;100(3):1364-9.
[5] Bone marrow transdifferentiation in brain after transplantation: a retrospective study.
Cogle CR, Yachnis AT, Laywell ED, Zander DS, Wingard JR, Steindler DA, Scott EW.
Lancet. 2004 May 1;363(9419):1432-7.
[6] Bone marrow grafts restore cerebral blood flow and blood brain barrier in stroke rats.
Borlongan CV, Lind JG, Dillon-Carter O, Yu G, Hadman M, Cheng C, Carroll J, Hess DC.
Bain Res. 2004 Jun 4;1010(1-2):108-16.
[7] Human marrow stromal cell therapy for stroke in rat: neurotrophins and functional recovery.
Li Y, Chen J, Chen XG, Wang L, Gautam SC, Xu YX, Katakowski M, Zhang LJ, Lu M, Janakiraman N, Chopp M.
Neurology. 2002 Aug 27;59(4):514-23.
[8] New hope for stroke patients: mobilization of endogenous stem cells.
Borlongan CV, Hess DC.
CMAJ. 2006 Mar 28;174(7):954-5.
Shyu WC, Lin SZ, Yang HI, Tzeng YS, Pang CY, Yen PS, Li H.
Circulation. 2004 Sep 28;110(13):1847-54.
[10] Beneficial effect of pharmacological mobilization of bone marrow in experimental cerebral ischemia.
Six I, Gasan G, Mura E, Bordet R.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2003 Jan 5;458(3):327-8.
Click to expand sources (11 to 22)
[11] The Therapeutic Potential of Stimulating Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization. In: Tissue Regeneration – From Basic Biology to Clinical Application. Drapeau C, Eufemio G, Mazzoni P, Roth GD and Strandberg, S. InTech Open, 2012.
Park HJ, Lee PH, Bang OY, Lee G, Ahn YH.
J Neurochem. 2008 Oct;107(1):141-51.
Frank T, Klinker F, Falkenburger BH, Laage R, Lühder F, Göricke B, Schneider A, Neurath H, Desel H, Liebetanz D, Bähr M, Weishaupt JH.
Brain. 2012 Jun;135(Pt 6):1914-25.
Li B, Gonzalez-Toledo ME, Piao CS, Gu A, Kelley RE, Zhao LR.
Alzheimers Res Ther. 2011 Mar 15;3(2):8.
[15] G-CSF rescues the memory impairment of animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.
Tsai KJ, Tsai YC, Shen CK.
J Exp Med. 2007 Jun 11;204(6):1273-80.
Sakai K, Yamamoto A, Matsubara K, Nakamura S, Naruse M, Yamagata M, Sakamoto K, Tauchi R, Wakao N, Imagama S, Hibi H, Kadomatsu K, Ishiguro N, Ueda M.
J Clin Invest. 2012 Jan;122(1):80-90.
[17] Potential Roles of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Neural Regeneration and Repair.
Luo L, He Y, Wang X, Key B, Lee BH, Li H, Ye Q.
Stem Cells Int. 2018 May 7;2018:1731289.
[18] Rat hair follicle stem cells differentiate and promote recovery following spinal cord injury.
Najafzadeh N, Nobakht M, Pourheydar B, Golmohammadi MG.
Neural Regen Res. 2013 Dec 25;8(36):3365-72.
[19] Marrow stromal cells form guiding strands in the injured spinal cord and promote recovery.
Hofstetter CP, Schwarz EJ, Hess D, Widenfalk J, El Manira A, Prockop DJ, Olson L.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Feb 19;99(4):2199-204.
Urdzíková L, Jendelová P, Glogarová K, Burian M, Hájek M, Syková E.
J Neurotrauma. 2006 Sep;23(9):1379-91.
Jensen GS, Hart AN, Zaske LA, Drapeau C, Gupta N, Schaeffer DJ, Cruickshank JA.
Cardiovasc Revasc Med. 2007 Jul-Sep;8(3):189-202.
[22] The Therapeutic Potential of Stimulating Endogenous Stem Cell Mobilization. In: Tissue Regeneration – From Basic Biology to Clinical Application. Drapeau C, Eufemio G, Mazzoni P, Roth GD and Strandberg, S. InTech Open, 2012.