Post-Stroke Stem Cell Injections

Stem cell injections into the brain following a stroke have been shown to prevent or reduce cognitive deficits, according to a study published in the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. A release from the publisher notes that the American Heart Association reports that almost half of ischemic stroke survivors older than 65 years of age experience cognitive deficits resulting in functional impairments, dependence, and increased mortality. The incidence of cognitive deficits triples after stroke and about one quarter of cognitively impaired stroke patients' progress to dementia. For these reasons, "there is an underlying need for restorative therapies," says lead investigator lead investigator Gary L. Dunbar, PhD, Director of the Central Michigan University Program in Neuroscience.

In order to see whether stem cells derived from bone marrow could prevent cognitive problems following a stroke-like ischemic event, the scientists mimicked stroke in rats. Seven days after the "stroke", some of the rats received injections of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BSCs), while others received control injections. Cognition was evaluated using a spatial operant reversal task (SORT), in which the animals were trained to press a lever a certain number of times when it was illuminated to receive a food reward.

The investigators found that animals that underwent a stroke but were then injected with BSC made significantly fewer incorrect lever presses than stroke rats who received control injections. In fact, the BSC-treated stroke animals performed as well as those who did not have a stroke. "Importantly, there were no significant between-group differences in the total number of lever presses, indicating the deficits observed were cognitive, rather than motor in nature," said Dr. Dunbar. The authors emphasize that the stem cell injections were effective even when transplanted seven days after the induced stroke, a finding that offers hope to patients who may not present for treatment immediately.

See the article here:
Post-Stroke Stem Cell Injections