Comments on: Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

By: Sullivan

Sullivan — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:26:57 +0000

“I am a mother with a child with autism and will try anything to help how can you bag something until you experience for yourselves’

My kid is autistic. I will not try things where I can’t make a reasonable estimate of risk/reward.

Can you tell me what the chances are of an adverse reaction to the “stem cell therapies” that are currently marketed for autism? Can you even list what the potential adverse reactions are?

Can you tell me what the expectation is for reward from stem cell therapies? Something more specific than “greatly improved”? Can you tell me what fraction of patients actually achieve these gains?

There is a prominent alt-med doctor in the autism community who was performing exorcisms. I’m good with skipping that, even though he claims that it was helpful. There were parents storing feces in buckets for a week and then feeding it to their kids with gastro-nasal tubes obtained from veterinary supply stores. I’m good with skipping that.

Chelation is based on an unsound model of autism. I’m good with avoiding that. If I had any idea that my kid had heavy metal intoxication, I’d take my kid to a medical toxicologist, not some alt-med practitioner who spent a few hours at a DAN symposium.

In case the point isn’t clear—I won’t try “everything”. I’ll weed out things that aren’t tested or are clearly (and somethings—like stem cells—are clearly) not a good idea.

By: Science Mom

Science Mom — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:11:58 +0000

I personally know someone who has had stem cell therapy for ms and her condition has greatly improved.

That’s nice Myriam but not only is it n=1, but an anecdote and you leave out every shred of relevant medical information.

I am a mother with a child with autism and will try anything to help how can you bag something until you experience for yourselves

Um, most of the commenters here and all of the blog authors have children on the spectrum so you aren’t unique. Why bag stem cell therapy for autism? How about no proof of efficacy and a lot of incidence of harm. Don’t be snookered by lofty claims by charlatans who will blithely empty your wallet but in the end, can’t provide your child with any improvement and may harm him/her in the process.

By: Myriam

Myriam — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:24:52 +0000

I personally know someone who has had stem cell therapy for ms and her condition has greatly improved. I am a mother with a child with autism and will try anything to help how can you bag something until you experience for yourselves

By: max

max — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:51:47 +0000

stem cell therapy for Autism is not approved anywhere in world & not enough research is done till date. Recently in U.S First Cord-Blood Transplant Therapy has been Approved by FDA that is only for haematological disorders i.e pertaining to blood only.
As the exact cause of Autism is still unknown so how can it be treated by stem cell therapy.As in countries like INDIA,china, and costa rica there are not enough laws to check these type of treatments and doctors are taking patients for ride. They hide all the side effects and dangers of the procedures involved.In india private nursing homes are doing this to exploit poor patients to rob off their hard earned money.

By: McD

McD — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 07:31:05 +0000

Hi Max,
I would like to hear more of your story.
cheers,
McD

By: max

max — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:50:52 +0000

All this stem cell therapy thing for autism is just a crap it’s just a way to extort money from patients. In india chaitanyastemcell pune centre is doing this. Not a single patient is benefited till date no reference is given of any patient who has been treated.Also the therapy is not recognised by ICMR (indian council of medical research) They are doing only experiment on helpless patients.
New research shows that autistic brains has more neurons than normal persons only the neuronal connections are not in a proper way. So what’s the point of making new neurons in brain by stem cell therapy. Though other modes of treatment works better like son-rise programme which helps brain making new connections. Ihave seen drastic improvements from these therapies.
So do not waste your money.

By: Science Mom

Science Mom — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:24:58 +0000

Peptides or spammer du jour, where is the evidence for your claims?

By: Peptides

Peptides — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 07:24:55 +0000

Cell Therapy is doing wonders for alternative treatments! I’m so excited to see the developments to come!

By: Clay

Clay — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:02:51 +0000

You really should ask someone who is more academic than I am, and I really should ignore you, because your question isn’t straightforward – you slipped in “disorder”, which I said nothing about. That’s a sign of a troll.

Come back with your real name, and I’ll give you a real answer.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:11:06 +0000

@Clay, I’m curious, what is autism, if not a disease/disorder?