Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a range of conditions associated with challenges in social skills and speech, as well as repetitive behaviors and nonverbal communication. Typically, signs of autism develop by the age of 2 or 3, and roughly 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is affected by autism today.
While experts cannot point to a single preventable cause for autism, it appears to be most influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Autism affects each individual differently, and some people with ASD can live independently while others may require ongoing support. People with autism may also experience medical issues such as seizures, sleep challenges, and gastrointestinal disorders.
As researchers work to understand more about how genetic and non-genetic factors affect brain development in early childhood, treatment options are evolving. Currently, the common treatments for ASD include educational interventions and medications. While educational interventions provide social and behavioral support tailored to each child’s unique needs, medication can have several undesirable effects. For instance, psychoactive medications which may be prescribed to control symptoms are often intended for adult use and may therefore not be well-tolerated in children. Moreover, their goal is to address the symptoms and not the root cause of ASD.
Stem Cell Therapy For Autism
Stem cells have unique properties which make them well-suited for therapeutic uses in a broad range of conditions. In particular, they can restore damaged cells and tissues and modify the immune response to promote healing at a cellular level. While further research must be done, previous studies show the potential in stem cells’ ability to help manage brain-related conditions.
In people with autism, the areas of the brain responsible for key functions such as speech, memory, concentration develop differently. Experts believe stem cells can aid in brain health by increasing blood flow and thus the delivery of oxygen, leading to positive outcomes such as the restoration of brain cells. As a result, they may help to not only reduce symptoms but potentially even reverse existing damage. Stem cells have the remarkable ability to acquire the characteristics of and replicate surrounding cells, which could ultimately lead to the restoration of grey matter and an improvement in outcomes for people with ASD.
This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we offer Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in Tampa, this therapy naturally acts to rebuild and regenerate neural tissues that are lost from the progression of all different types of diseases.