Brain injury and stem cells

A Brain injury can be complex and diverse in its origins and the symptoms can vary enormously from incredibly mild to debilitating or even fatal. When a patient has a cerebral injury the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain is reduced or limited which results in the death of brain tissue.

Brain Injury Facts

• At least 10 million traumatic brain injuries are serious enough to result in hospitalisation or death around the world annually ^[1]
• There were approximately 214,110 hospitalisations related to brain injury in 2020 in the United States. This does not include brain injuries that were treated in the emergency department, urgent care, or primary care, or those that went untreated.^[2]
• Men are twice as likely to be hospitalised for a brain injury and three times as likely to die, compared to women.^[2]
• It is estimated that 5.3 million people in the United States are living with impairment as a consequence of traumatic brain injury. This costs the country more than $56 billion per year, when counting both the cost of care and the loss of earnings.^[3]
• Falls are the leading cause of brain injury for children and the elderly^[3]
• Road traffic accidents are the leading cause among adults ^[3]
• Veterans are a growing population of traumatic brain injury survivors in the United States^[3]

Brain injury and Cord Blood Stem Cells

The application of cord blood stem cells in cerebral injury are being investigated in over 55 clinical trials.^[4] Many of the problems associated with traumatic brain injury occur because neural tissue is destroyed as the brain is under pressure as it swells within the restricted space within the skull.^[5]

Research increasingly suggests that cord blood stem cells have the ability to pass through the brain’s protective barriers and enter the brain. Once in the brain these stem cells appear to initiate repair and promote healing. It isn’t fully understood how cord blood stem cells do this but current theories suggest that a combination of powerful properties such as anti-inflammatory, growth factors and circulation boosters could be the key. It is believed that they travel directly to damaged areas within the brain and improve blood flow, regrow blood vessels and calm inflammation which contributes to the growth of healthy new neural cells in place of damaged tissue.^[5]

References

1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150323111651.htm
2. https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/index.html
3. https://www.physio-pedia.com/Epidemiology_of_Traumatic_Brain_Injury/
4. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=cerebral+injury+cord+blood&Search=Search
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3dC7xEv-s

The information contained in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical expert. If you have any concerns about your health we urge you to discuss them with your doctor.