Autism Blog - Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

10 Feb 2010

Author: Sullivan
Comments: 7

Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

There are many unproven therapies being used by alternative medicine practitioners on autistic kids. One newer “therapy” is the use of stem cells.

I have yet to see even a good explanation of why stem cells should work. Not even a fully thought out bad reason. And, yet, kids are being “treated” with stem cells.

For those who would like a rundown of stem cells, their use and the potential problems, I refer you to Promtheus’ A Photon In The Darkness blog and his post, Stem Cell Therapy for Autism.

Not to steal his thunder, but here is the part that I am having trouble getting out of my mind. A child was given multiple stem cell “treatments”. Later he developed recurring headaches. On testing…well, Prometheus says it:

In short, this lad had two separate brain and spinal cord tumours. Under the microscope, these tumours were not cancerous, but looked like disorganized neural tissue. When they were tested genetically, the tumours did not match the patient’s genetic markers. They were, in fact, from two separate donors.

Many alternative medical therapies appear to be basically harmless. Give a kid some extra vitamin, or change his/her diet. Stem cell therapy does not fall into that category. When a risk/benefit calculation is done, what can you say but there is significant risk and no discernible benefit.

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Comments

7 Responses to “Stem Cell Therapy for Autism”

David N. Brown
February 10th, 2010
02:20:14

A major consideration is that claimed “stem cell” therapies may or may not involve actual stem cells. This is a very controversial technology (at least on this side of the pond), and as far as I can tell even the advocates don’t think it is anywhere near ready for use as a treatment.
It occurs to me that quacks getting hold of actual stem cells could be an unintended consequence of Bush’s denial of federal funding in the area. When legitimate research is underfunded, it is a foreseeable outcome that shady ventures will snatch up surplus resources.
Sullivan
February 10th, 2010
02:29:23

David N. Brown,

As research groups have had to lobby for research funding for stem cells, they have touted them as basically a possible cure for everything.

The alt-med community basically got free publicity. The public’s mind set has been hearing for years about the grand potential for stem cells.
dr treg
February 11th, 2010
00:19:17

Prometheus is incorrect re the blog comments on stem cell therapy
“In the event that someone invokes the concept of “neuroinflammation” as a reason to try stem cell therapy, I’d like to point out that, to date, effective stem cell treatments for “neuroinflammation” and autoimmunity have involved also giving large doses of cytotoxic drugs to kill the errant immune system cells prior to re-infusing the patient’s stem cells. Explain how that would work without the cytotoxic drugs (or radiation) and you’ll get a Nobel Prize in Medicine.”
Stem cells are being used in several diseases previously regarded as “degenerative” without cytotoxic therapy e.g. heart failure and Parkinson`s disease which are increasingly being recognised as inflammatory diseases.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/.....apter9.asp
Stem cells appear to be attracted to areas of inflammation and reduced oxygen. Brain immunological and oxygen abnormalities are well-recognised in autism.
Prometheus is confusing stem cell treatment of malignant disease which does require cytotoxic therapy. Autism is a neuro-inflammatory disease and not a malignant disease.
Sullivan
February 11th, 2010
01:36:52

dr treg,

you would do well to take your question to Prometheus’ blog if you want an answer. My goal here was not to divert discussion away from his blog.
daedalus2u
February 11th, 2010
04:42:33

I agree, not even a partially thought out bad reason.

People with autism tend to have larger brains with more neurons. How is adding extra cells supposed to fix that?

It is a pure scam. I agree with the sentiment that stem cells will always be a future treatment. The problem with things like heart disease is that the already existing heart does not have the metabolic resources to maintain the cells that it already has in a healthy state. The metabolic problems of the heart need to be fixed first. Once you fix those problems, the heart doesn’t need stem cells.
Prometheus
February 11th, 2010
20:48:24

“Dr. Treg” objects:

“Stem cells are being used in several diseases previously regarded as “degenerative” without cytotoxic therapy e.g. heart failure and Parkinson`s disease which are increasingly being recognised as inflammatory diseases.”

Whether or not “heart failure” (a vague description, since many things can cause “heart failure”) and Parkinson’s disease are inflammatory diseases, stem cell therapies have not yet been shown to be effective in their treatment. The fact that they are being “used” in the setting of “heart failure” and Parkinson’s disease is irrelevant – so are chiropractic and homeopathy.

If and when stem cell therapies are shown to be effective treatments for “heart failure” and Parkinson’s disease, we can revisit the issue of whether the stem cells “work” by reducing inflammation. Until then, any discussion of how stem cells might work should be tabled until it is shown that they do work.

Prometheus
Clay
February 11th, 2010
21:30:04

dr treg sez:

“Autism is a neuro-inflammatory disease and not a malignant disease.”

I would suggest that dr treg has an anal-inflammatory disease. ;-)
Autism isn’t any kind of “disease”.