Parkinson’s Syndrome is a central neurological disorder caused by a gradual loss of certain nerve cells in the brain. These cells are responsible for generating a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is essential for coordination and movement.
The stem cell therapy that is used to treat Parkinson’s syndrome involves collecting bone marrow from the patient. This is done by inserting a thin needle into the hip bone under local anesthetic. The stem cells can then be retrieved from the bone marrow in a laboratory. The next day a lumbar puncture is performed on the patient using a spinal needle, which is inserted between the vertebrae. Some spinal fluid is then removed and is mixed with the stem cells. This is injected back into the cerebrospinal fluid and the stem cells are carried up the spinal canal and into the brain. The stem cells can then self-generate themselves into the nerve cells which produce dopamine. The procedure requires the patient to stay for 4-5 days.