Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder affecting muscle control, balance, and coordination, and Rocky Point Stem Cell Therapy approaches it with stem cell therapy aimed at supplying new, healthy neurons to the brain.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects the control of muscles, often leading to trembling of the hands and impaired balance. As a progressive disorder, it can worsen with age, leading to increased stiffness, slower movements, difficulty performing everyday tasks, and excessive trembling. It affects more than 5 million people globally and primarily impacts those over the age of 60, though it can affect younger people too. With life expectancy increasing worldwide, the number of people living with Parkinson’s is expected to rise in the coming years.

Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

  • The real cause of Parkinson’s disease remains largely a mystery, with researchers pointing to the contribution of several factors.
  • Genes play a role, with some people having a higher likelihood of developing the disease, although cases of multiple family members being affected are rare and not common.
  • Lewy bodies are usually the main focus of Parkinson’s-related research due to their presence in the brain cells of people with the disease. Various substances have been found in Lewy bodies, though the a-synuclein protein could be a major contributor.

Parkinson’s Disease Complications

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a wide range of complications in addition to the loss of muscle control. These include dementia, bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, and constipation due to a slowed digestion system. Sleep disorders and emotional changes may also be experienced.

Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

This condition is not curable; however, there are treatments available to manage the symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. Adopting a healthier lifestyle with regular exercise can help keep symptoms under control and maintain balance, and doctors commonly recommend lifestyle changes to aid recovery.

Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Stem cell therapy taps into a new source of cells for the brain, which can help in better understanding the disease. Induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells, sourced from adult skin cells, can produce neurons that may be injected into the brain with no rejection seen.

Frequently Asked Questions

The exact cause remains largely unknown. Researchers point to a combination of factors, including genetics, and to Lewy bodies found in the brain cells of people with the disease, which may be linked to the a-synuclein protein.

Beyond the loss of muscle control, Parkinson’s can lead to dementia, bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, constipation from slowed digestion, sleep disorders, and emotional changes.

No, Parkinson’s disease is not currently curable. Treatments are instead focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life, often alongside lifestyle changes such as regular exercise.

Treatment centers on managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life, with doctors commonly recommending regular exercise and other lifestyle changes to help control symptoms and maintain balance.

Induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells, sourced from adult skin cells, can be used to produce neurons for injection into the brain, offering a potential new source of brain cells without rejection being observed.

This page is part of our Neurologic use cases. You may also be interested in our pages on Headaches, Migraines & Occipital Neuralgia and Stem Cell Treatment for Alzheimer’s, or you can contact our team to discuss your case.