Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of memory and cognitive abilities. While it most commonly appears after age 60, early-onset Alzheimer’s can occur as early as age 35 in rare cases.
In its early stages, Alzheimer’s typically manifests as:
- Short-term memory loss, such as forgetting appointments or misplacing belongings.
- Difficulty with problem-solving and organizing thoughts.
- Changes in personality and impaired judgment.
As the disease progresses, dementia develops, leading to:
- Persistent confusion, paranoia, and disorientation in time and space.
- Loss of independence and the need for assistance with daily activities.
- Decline in physical abilities and loss of coherent communication.
These symptoms are linked to pathological changes in brain tissue, including the accumulation of amyloid plaques (misfolded protein clumps), loss of neural connections, and brain atrophy.
The exact cause remains unclear, but Alzheimer’s appears to involve inflammatory and immune-mediated processes that damage the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells (demyelination). This leads to progressive brain atrophy, as seen in other neurodegenerative conditions.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s. Available pharmacological treatments primarily aim to manage behavioral symptoms and may modestly slow disease progression.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for Alzheimer’s Disease
Innovative approaches to treating Alzheimer’s include:
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Deep Transmagnetic Stimulation (dTMS):
This non-invasive therapy has been approved for treating Alzheimer’s and may alleviate some symptoms. -
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Based Therapy:
- MSCs possess anti-inflammatory properties and may counteract immune-mediated damage in Alzheimer’s patients.
- Exosomes, secretory products of MSCs, have paracrine effects that could support neural regeneration.
- MSCs can be differentiated into neural stem cells in laboratory conditions, potentially promoting nerve growth and replacing cells lost to apoptosis.
Combining Mesenchymal Stem Cells therapy with dTMS holds promise for slowing or even reversing some destructive aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Ongoing research aims to determine the extent of these therapies’ effectiveness.
At Biotherapy International, repetitive dTMS is available, approved by regulatory authorities, and forms part of our commitment to offering innovative treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.
