Research: Critical Need
Millions of people have died throughout history from what was believed to be at the time an incurable disease. The Bubonic Plague, an infection of the lymphatic system, claimed an estimated 200 million lives over several centuries before antibiotics were introduced in modern times. Smallpox is a virus unique to humans that killed 60 million Europeans and decimated the Native American population by more than 10 million. To this day, smallpox is the only human infectious disease known to have been completely eradicated.
The key to curing and treating these and dozens of other diseases and conditions is research. Scientists believe that unlocking the mysteries of the stem cell could help untold millions who fall victim to various diseases, injuries and conditions.
Here is a brief list of diseases and conditions (with some additional detail) already being helped through adult stem cell research and/or therapies.
Cerebral palsy, a condition where the brain is unable to control the muscles of the body, impacts as many as 10,000 newborns each each, accoording to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). An experimental procedure at Duke University in North Carolina is being used with great success to treat this condition. Children with cerebral palsy are being infused with their own cord blood stem cells to heal and repair damaged brain tissue.
Parkinson’s Disease, attacks the nervous system of the human body, and is caused by a slow, almost imperceptible loss of cells in the brain that produce a chemical necessary for muscles to work normally. Many people have come to know the main symptom of Parkinson’s as the disease that causes uncontrollable shaking of the hands, arms or legs. After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, with an estimated lifetime risk of approximately 1 in 100 persons. It is most common in men and women over 50.
Leukemia is defined by the National Cancer Institute as a “Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream.” Nearly 45,000 new cases are diagnosed each year with more than 20,000 dying from leukemia annually in the United States.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that has been called “the crippler of young adults", normally affecting people under 45 years-old, impacting each victim a little differently. It can cause blurred or otherwise impaired vision, the loss of muscular strength, poor balance, “tingling” throughout parts of the body bladder control problems, memory lapses and much more. 2.5 million people, including 400,000 Americans are affected by MS, 70% of MS victims are women.
Here is a more complete list of diseases and conditions that are being helped by adult stem cell research and/or therapies.
CANCERS:
Brain Cancer
Retinoblastoma
Ovarian Cancer
Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Testicular Cancer
Tumors abdominal organs Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Cancer of the lymph nodes: Angioimmunoblastic Lymphadenopathy
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplasia
Breast Cancer
Neuroblastoma
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Various Solid Tumors
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Ewing’s Sarcoma
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
POEMS syndrome
Myelofibrosis
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES:
Diabetes Type I (Juvenile)
Systemic Lupus
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Myasthenia
Autoimmune Cytopenia
Scleromyxedema
Scleroderma
Crohn’s Disease
Behcet’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis
Polychondritis
Systemic Vasculitis
Alopecia Universalis
Buerger’s Disease
CARDIOVASCULAR:
Acute Heart Damage
Chronic Coronary Artery Disease
OCULAR:
Corneal regeneration
IMMUNODEFICIENCIES:
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome
X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
X-linked Hyper immunoglobulin M Syndrome
NEURAL DEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND INJURIES:
Parkinson’s Disease
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke Damage
ANEMIAS AND OTHER BLOOD CONDITIONS:
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sideroblastic Anemia
Aplastic Anemia
Red Cell Aplasia
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Thalassemia
Primary Amyloidosis
Diamond Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi’s Anemia
Chronic Epstein-Barr Infection
WOUNDS AND INJURIES:
Limb Gangrene
Surface Wound Healing
Jawbone Replacement
Skull Bone Repair
OTHER METABOLIC DISORDERS:
Hurler’s Syndrome
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Krabbe Leukodystrophy
Osteopetrosis
Cerebral X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy
LIVER DISEASE:
Chronic Liver Failure
Liver Cirrhosis
BLADDER DISEASE:
End-Stage Bladder Disease