A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. Without blood brain cells can be damaged or die, this can have different effects, depending on where in the brain it happens.

The Stroke Associations State of The Nation report for 2018 identifies that every year there are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK, which equates to one every five minutes. There are also 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK currently.

There are two main causes of strokes: ischaemic – where the blood supply is stopped because of a blood clot (which accounts for 85% of cases in the UK) and haemorrhagic – where a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.

The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the UK, as two thirds of stroke survivors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland leave hospital with some form of disability.

These effects vary, from weakness in arms and legs and problems with speaking, understanding, reading and writing to swallowing problems, vision problems, pain and headaches. In a number of cases they can be fatal, with approximately 1 in 14 deaths caused by stroke in the UK.

Research into Stem Cell Treatment for Strokes        

However, as reported by BBC online, scientists have begun the process of discovering how stem cells might be used to treat stroke victims and to support recovery. In 2016 Leonard McCourt, aged 70, become one of the first people in the UK to be treated for a stroke using stem cells. The great-grandfather was one of the 21 patients taking part in the world’s first fully-regulated stem cell trial.

Less than two years ago the Daily Mail reported that doctors had reversed the symptoms of stroke in a major medical breakthrough. Patients regained the ability to walk, speak and have a normal family life, thanks to a procedure requiring only local anaesthetic and a single night in hospital.

Remarkably, the stem cell treatment was shown to work even three years after someone had suffered a stroke – meaning that millions of people could potentially benefit from the treatment.

Whilst scientists agree with the potential that lies in this field, more studies are still being conducted to explore the full extent of opportunities that stem cell therapy might present.

Protecting Your Child’s Future Health

The best stem cells are young stem cells, before they can deteriorate through age or pollution. That’s why it’s advisable to bank stem cells whilst they are in their prime, at the best they will ever be – at the youngest age possible.

As children naturally lose around 12 teeth over a five-year period, the process of obtaining viable stem cells for future treatment for conditions, such as diabetes, is non-invasive. It’s also the most cost effective way to ensure cells are banked and ready for when they may need to be used in the future.

If you want more information on how you could bank your children’s baby teeth for potential future therapeutic use, have a chat to one of our team or download our guide to stem cell banking.

To keep up to date with the latest developments in stem cell therapy and the treatment of diabetes, make sure to check back regularly to our blog. Read our latest news article on stem cell therapy developments for strokes here.