Stem Cells After Stroke: Can Regenerative Medicine Help the Brain Recover? Understanding MSCs, Neuroplasticity, and the Emerging Science of Post-Stroke Regenerative Medicine By Dr. Daryl Joel Dumdum, MD, DFM, FSRM
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of long-term neurological disability. For many survivors, surviving the acute event is only the beginning. Months or even years afterward, patients may continue to experience weakness, impaired sensation, poor balance, spasticity, difficulty walking, speech problems, fatigue, and loss of independence. This naturally leads patients and their families to ask: “Can stem cells help the brain recover after a stroke?” The scientific answer is promising — but still evolving. What Happens to the Brain After Stroke? An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain becomes interrupted, depriving neurons of oxygen and nutrients. Some brain cells die during the initial injury, while surrounding tissues may experience inflammation, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and disruption of neural networks. Yet the brain also possesses an extraordinary ability: Neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the nervous system’s ability to...