Currently, there is no known treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition that approximately 1.7 million people sustain each year, but a new study reveals the potential for a patient's own stem cells to significantly improve their neurological health.

The study, published in the March issues of Neurosurgery, reviewed the use of bone marrow to treat pediatric traumatic brain injury. It is the first published trial using mononuclear cells (MNC’s), one’s own cells, to treat traumatic brain injury, and focused on children because they are one of the most likely groups to experience TBIs. The goal of the trial was to establish the safety of the experimental treatment, which it did; in addition, researchers also reported other exciting results. Patients treated with their own bone marrow stem cells showed preservation of brain structures as well as improvement in cognitive functioning, processing speed, working memory (listening skills), fine motor skills and declarative memory (verbal skills). No adverse events were reported.

Another study of the healing potential of cord blood stem cells was begun in early 2011. This FDA-regulated trial entails follow-on research on the use of cord blood cells to treat traumatic brain injuries. The use of one’s own cells to treat this kind of problem bypasses the risk of blood-borne disease transfer, cell rejection, and graft vs. host disease. 

Study Published in Neurosurgery Demonstrates Safety of Stem Cell Therapy for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury [The Stem Cell Source]

Ground-Breaking Clinical Trial Using Cord Blood to Treat Brain Injuries [PWBlog]

Injury Prevention & Control: Traumatic Brain Injury [CDC]