Regenerative medicine — a medical approach that uses stem cells, tissues, biomaterials, and bioactive molecules to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged cells, organs, and tissues to restore normal function — has made great strides in the healthcare domain, with researchers looking to tap into its potential. When it comes to autism, while traditional therapies related to behaviour and speech have been popular treatment options, newer medical innovations motivate to address the causes of its symptoms, says Dr Pradeep Mahajan, regenerative medicine researcher and founder of StemRx Hospital and Research Centre.
What Is Autism?
According to the expert, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by difficulties in social communication, the presence of stereotypical behaviour patterns and problems with sensory sensitivity. These factors can have a vigorous impact on an individual’s quality of life.
“Regenerative forms of medicine, including stem cell treatments, are becoming popular in people with ASD, because they have the potential to produce long-lasting change,” Dr Mahajan says.
Traditional Approaches To Autism Treatment
Let us first understand the traditional approaches to treating autism. According to the doctor, autism has been treated, taught and therapeutically managed with applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and other forms of communication or occupational therapy. “Though effective, such interventions are always more of a behavioural approach; they do not seek out possible biological causes. Hence for most families, this was never enough in terms of effective change, which encouraged them to look for newer therapies,” the expert comments.
Regenerative Medicine And Stem Cell Therapy For Autism
A newer approach to treatment of autism includes the use of cells and their derivatives available through regenerative therapy. The technique focuses on repairing or restoring the function of cells to counteract some of the biological deviations contributing to symptoms of ASD. “Autism has so many biologic components; it cannot be managed simply by therapeutics. Regenerative medicine opens up the possibilities of considerably improving neurodevelopmental outcomes by targeting cellular dysfunctions,” Dr Mahajan explains.
How Stem Cell Therapy Works For Autism
The expert explains that stem cell therapy employs stem cells’ properties of maturation into specialised cells — such as neural cells and tissue, as well as productions of growth factors — that stimulate cellular repair mechanisms and relieve inflammation. “There are studies that claim that many individuals with ASD displayed neuro-inflammation, oxidative stress and improper functioning of the gut-brain axis. Such dysfunctions might explain the peculiarities of a broad spectrum of phenomena spanning from impaired social and communicative skills to disturbances of gastrointestinal health, which are foreseeable in ASD.”
Clinicians look to control inflammation, alter the immune derivative response and consolidate neural networks and their functions by using stem cells derived from bone marrow or umbilical remnants, the doctor explains, adding that doing this may help alleviate symptoms and improve cognitive performance, communication, and even behaviour.
Clinical Findings And Current Evidence
Preliminary clinical investigations have found stem cell therapy for autism to be promising. According to the expert, some patients have reportedly exhibited improvements in language acquisition, social skills, and eye contact after undergoing stem cell therapy. “Although these interventions are still termed as investigational, they provide expectations for patients in search of enhanced therapeutic alternatives to the standard medical treatments.”
Beyond Stem Cells
Dr Mahajan says that in addition to stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine includes other innovative interventions like intestinal microbiota transfer (IMT), neuropeptides, and quantum energy medicine — methods that focus on optimising neurological health and balancing the gut-brain axis, which is known to influence mood, behaviour, and cognition.