Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder affecting over 1 million Americans, may have a powerful new treatment option: stem-cell transplants. Two small studies found that transplanted stem cells began producing dopamine and eased symptoms in patients.
Researchers at BlueRock Therapeutics administered stem-cell products to Parkinson’s patients during surgery, injecting the immature cells into areas of the brain involved in movement. PET scans showed that these cells produced dopamine after 18 months. The treatment appeared to ease symptoms, with some participants showing significant improvement.
A second study in Japan used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients’ own cells. Both studies had no serious adverse events and indicated a potential breakthrough in treating Parkinson’s disease.
The Food and Drug Administration has cleared one of the treatments for a Phase 3 study, the final hurdle before approval. While stem-cell therapy is not a cure-all, it could offer new hope to some patients who are no longer responding to traditional treatments. However, scientists will need to continue monitoring the transplanted cells for potential risks and long-term effects.
The development of this treatment has been years in the making, with researchers overcoming technical hurdles such as creating the right mix of chemicals to produce dopamine-producing neurons. Now, stem-cell therapy appears poised to revolutionize the way Parkinson’s disease is treated, potentially paving the way for new treatments for other brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/17/g-s1-60796/parkinsons-stem-cell-transplant-treatment