The Center, Europe’s leading stem cell therapy provider has released results from a follow-up study of 50 Parkinson’s disease patients treated with autologous bone marrow stem cells. Overall, almost 60% improved following treatment. These results support the premise that patients with Parkinson’s disease can be treated safely and effectively with autologous stem cell therapy. The most common improvements reported by patients were decreased rigidity (74%) and better walking/gait (over 80%). “Two months after the stem cell therapy, I had a checkup for a hole in my eardrum that had been there for several years and it was healed up completely! As for the Parkinson's symptoms, I am much stronger.
 
I still fall occasionally but nothing compared to before therapy. People tell me that I am talking much better. I am blinking and smiling and I have more facial expression… My ability to use utensils at mealtime is almost back to normal,” said Mr. Herman Engman, who was treated in January 2009. More than half of the patients who improved reported decreased tremors while more than 60% experienced better speech.
 
Approximately 60% of the patients surveyed had their improvement confirmed by their own physician. “Now, I am walking like I was before I had Parkinson's and my shaking is more under control… I am sleeping longer at night and have also gained 10 pounds… This is the first time in four years that I have been able to gain any weight,” stated Mr. John Andresen.
 
Mr. Andresen was treated in July 2009. The treatment begins by collecting a small amount bone marrow from the patient’s hip via thin needle mini-puncture under local anesthesia. The stem cells are separated from the bone marrow at the Center’s EU certified cGMP laboratory, where they are counted and their vitality is confirmed. The last step consists of inserting a fine spinal needle between the patient’s L4 and L5 vertebrae and injecting the stem cells into the cerebrospinal fluid which flows into the brain.