A recent article published by Dr. Kylie Ellis in the Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy revealed a shocking discovery: stem cells from dental pulp can grow to resemble brain-like cells in the right environment. Dr. Ellis, a researcher from the University of Adelaide, believes this revelation can drastically improve treatment options for patients suffering from cardiovascular and neurological illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and strokes.
Over 140,000 people die from strokes each year, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, there are limited available remedies for stroke victims and the most common treatment must be administered within the first few hours of symptoms. This narrow window is often missed, which can cause serious health issues, physical disabilities, and possibly death.
Thanks to Dr. Ellis’ discovery, scientists can now consider the possibility of treating patients with customized cell therapy using dental pulp stem cells. Since stem cells are taken from the patient’s teeth, the risk of their body rejecting the new tissue is significantly lower than if it were taken from another source. Another advantage to using dental pulp stem cells is dental professionals can remove them at any time, even years after the patient experienced a stroke.
Dr. Ellis says the next step is to begin treatment in humans, and she and her colleagues are working toward that goal.
Everyone at Germantown Dental Group is excited about this latest discovery in regenerative medicine and remains committed to providing you with excellent dental care.If you would like more information on our general and cosmetic dental care options, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.