Hope this moon shot works. But I'd rather they tackle known problems first. Like research that stops the 5 causes of the neuronal cascade of death in the first week. Much more likely to succeed.
First surgery in US using stem cells to treat stroke survivors completed at MCG - Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA (WJBF) - CLICK HERE to learn more about the Pices III trial
A
new treatment could be a game changer for people who have suffered a
stroke and the first procedure completed in the United States happened
right here at the Medical College of Georgia.
Stroke
is the third leading cause of disability in the United States and
Georgia and South Carolina have some of the highest stroke rates in the
country.
Right now, doctors at MCG are inserting stem cells into the brain to help patients regain functions lost due to stroke.
“If
you've had a moderate or severe stroke, your life will be changed
forever,” says Dr. Scott Rahimi, MCG endovascular neurosurgeon.
Dr.
Rahimi is a Medical College of Georgia graduate, and the first surgeon
in the United States to complete a new procedure for patients who have
suffered a stroke.
“I
don't know what the final answer is going to be, but it's exciting that
we're part of the process to see if it can help,” says Dr. Rahimi.
The
people they are working with are those who have had the kind of stroke
that causes brain damage due to lack of blood flow. The surgeons are
using stem cells because those are the cells that have not yet been
assigned a specific function in the body and have the ability to
transform. Dr. Rahimi explains how stem cells can help stroke survivors.
“Once
you destroy brain cells or they're injured, there is no replacement…
but the next phase is to see if these stem cells can regenerate tissue
and function,” explains Dr. Rahimi.
Dr. Rahimi describes how they do the surgery that happened for the first time in the US last week.
“We
pick targets where the patients have had a stroke and implant these
stem cells using that technology to a very specific area,” he says.
The
best case scenario is for the patient to regain some kind of function
after the surgery. Examples of progress would be improvements to
weakness on one side of the body, improvements to weakness in the face
or improvements to the patient’s speech.
Doctors
perform this procedure 6 to 12 months after the stroke once the brain
has most of what it can to heal itself, but cannot do anymore.
“There
are some stem cell trials with IV or initially treat the patient up
front, but as far as patient's who've had a stroke, who are devastated,
have lost function, there's really not much available besides some
medical therapy with physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech
therapy,” Dr. Rahimi points out.
Previous trials in the UK proved to help patients regain function.
“The
applications are just enormous,” says Dr. Rahimi. “If this works in
this scenario we can do the same thing for trauma patient… spinal cord
injuries. It's amazing to me that this is even possible.”
There
are lifestyle choices you can make to help avoid a stroke. Dr. Rahimi
says you should see a doctor regularly for things like blood work and
physicals so that you can detect some of the signs that could lead to
stroke.
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