Treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain that is caused by a blow or forceful bump to the head or the body. In some cases, traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs, can be caused by an object piercing the skull and entering into the brain. It is important to recognize that not all jolts or blows to the head result in traumatic brain injuries.
When a TBI does occur, this type of injury can have severe consequences that last for the rest of the patient’s life. There are generally two broad types of traumatic brain injuries that patients can suffer from. These include:
- Penetrating TBIs: Penetrating traumatic brain injuries, also known as open TBIs, are a result of sharp objects piercing the skull. These injuries are generally caused by bullets, bone fragments, shrapnel, hammers, or knives entering the brain tissue.
- Non-Penetrating TBIs: Non-penetrating brain injuries, also known as closed-head injuries or blunt traumatic brain injuries, are generally caused by an external force striking the head. The force is strong enough to cause the brain to strike the skull. However, they do not cause any penetration to the skull itself or the brain. These injuries are generally caused by falling, blast injuries, vehicle accidents, being struck by hard objects, or sports injuries.
In some cases, patients can suffer from both non-penetrating and penetrating brain injuries. These are generally the result of extreme events, natural disasters, or explosions.
How Many People Have Traumatic Brain Injuries?
In the United States, approximately 2.5 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries annually. These account for nearly 132 to 367 injuries per 100,000 people. Of the annual diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries, approximately 50,000 people end up passing away as a result of their injuries, while more than 282,000 people are hospitalized.
Across the globe, estimates show between 27 million and 69 million people suffer brain injuries annually.
What are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
In general, traumatic brain injury sufferers can experience an array of physical and psychological symptoms. The symptoms that a patient will experience are generally based on the type of traumatic brain injury and the severity of the injury that they have.
People who suffer from mild traumatic injuries will generally experience physical symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Vomiting or Nausea
- Dizziness and/or loss of balance
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Problems with speech
In addition, patients may also experience an array of sensory problems, such as a bad taste in their mouth, blurred vision, ringing in their ears, or even a change in their ability to smell. Patients may also experience sensitivity to light or sounds. These injuries may also come with behavioral and cognitive symptoms. These include:
- Problems sleeping
- Loss of consciousness
- State of being confused, dazed and/or disoriented
- Mood changes
- Anxiety
- Feeling depressed
- Sleeping more than normal
Patients who have moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries may experience the symptoms listed above. However, they are generally more intense. In addition, patients may also experience:
- Seizures or convulsions
- Repeated vomiting
- Loss of consciousness, which can last several minutes to several hours
- Headaches
- Numbness or weakness in the toes or fingers
- Loss of coordination
- Having fluids draining from their ears or nose
- Dilation of one or both pupils
Patients may also experience an array of mental or cognitive symptoms, such as:
- Slurred speech
- Significant confusion
- Agitation
- Combativeness
- Coma
Children who suffer from traumatic brain injuries may also experience an array of symptoms. These include:
- A loss of interest in their favorite activities and or toys
- Extreme drowsiness
- Depression or sadness
- Seizures or convulsions
- Sleep habit changes
- The inability to pay attention
- Easily irritated
- Changing eating habits
Patients who experience traumatic brain injuries may suffer from these and other complications for the rest of their lives, depending on the type and severity of the injury. There are several treatment options available to help patients who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
What Treatment Options are Available for Traumatic Brain Injuries?
The type of treatment that a patient receives for their traumatic brain injury will depend upon the severity of the injury that they have suffered.
Patients who have mild traumatic brain injuries will generally require no extensive treatment. Many patients are prescribed over-the-counter pain relievers to treat lasting headaches. However, these patients will need to be monitored closely to determine if any symptoms worsen, persist, or any new symptoms appear.
Patients who suffer from moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries will need to undergo emergency medical care. The medical professional will determine if the patient has enough oxygen and if there is an adequate amount of blood supply to the brain. They will also work to maintain the patient’s blood pressure and prevent any further injuries to the affected area.
Patients who suffer from severe traumatic brain injuries will generally be prescribed multiple types of medication. These can include:
Diuretics: These medications are designed to reduce the amount of fluid that is in the tissues. They also increase urine output in order to do so. Diuretics can be prescribed intravenously to people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries, which can be effective in reducing the pressure that patients experience from these injuries inside of the brain.
Coma-inducing medications: In some cases, doctors will use drugs to put patients into temporary comas. This effectively reduces the amount of oxygen that is needed to function, which can help to alleviate some of the pressure in the brain.
Anti-seizure medications: These medications may be prescribed to patients who experience seizures after their injury.
In addition to medication, some patients may have to go through surgery. These surgeries can include the removal of clotted blood, repairing fractures in the skull, fixing bleeding on the brain, and opening a window in the skull.
More recently, medical professionals have been studying the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to help reduce and alleviate the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and patients. The use of these stem cells is proving effective.
What are Umbilical Cord Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, commonly known as UCT-MSCs, are a type of adult stem cell that is generally isolated from the Wharton’s jelly tissues surrounding the umbilical cord. These stem cells have the ability to self-renew. Additionally, they have the ability to differentiate into many different types of cells, including chondrocytes (cartilage cells), osteoblasts (bone cells), adipocytes (fat cells), and myocytes (muscle cells).
Once isolated, these cells can be cultured in laboratory settings and used for a variety of purposes, including research, regenerative medicine, and drug testing. In recent studies, scientists have found promising results when it comes to using stem cells for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries.
Using UC-MSCs to Treat Traumatic Brain Injuries
Studies have been conducted in recent years on the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat traumatic brain injuries. More recently, preclinical studies in animal models of TBI have shown that MSCs can improve neurological function and reduce brain damage. In one study, mice with traumatic brain injuries that were treated with umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells had significantly reduced cell death and improved neurological function compared to mice that did not receive treatment. These findings suggest that umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells may be a safe and effective treatment for TBI in humans.
Another study about the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat patients who suffer from traumatic brain injuries also showed promising results. This study determined that UCT-MSCs offer a treatment option for TBI patients, as they are able to modulate the inflammatory response and promote nerve regeneration. In addition, UCT-MSCs can be easily obtained and scaled up for clinical use.
Finally, another study concerning the use of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells to treat animal models suffering from traumatic brain injuries found that the stem cells were effective in enhancing angiogenesis and improving the functional recovery of the brain’s microvascular system. This clinical study showed that umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were able to transfer mitochondria to damaged cells by taking a variety of routes in the brain. They were effective in replacing defective mitochondria and protecting cells from damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, they were effective in restoring aerobic respiration, reducing inflammation, and improving the overall functional recovery of the damaged or affected area of the brain.
All of the studies mentioned above have shown that umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy has the potential to be a very promising method of treatment for addressing traumatic brain injuries in patients. This treatment has the potential to replenish lost neural cells and may even suppress the secondary inflammatory responses that are associated with traumatic brain injuries. This method of regenerative medicine has the potential in the future to be considered one of the most effective treatments for traumatic brain injuries, providing relief to sufferers that is not currently available with traditional treatment methods.
Take the first step toward a healthier future. Contact Cellebration Wellness at 858-258-5090 to learn how stem cell therapy can benefit you.
