Stem Cell Therapy as a treatment modality for Autism by Dr. Alok sharma

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions.  It characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, cognition, hyperactivity, stereotyped repetitive behaviour, emotional and neurobehavioral abnormalities.  The centre of disease control and prevention has estimated that 1 in every 68 children have autism. Increase in the incidence may be because of genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors. Other factors include familial history, birth weight, prematurity, maternal age, paternal age, and presence of birth defects. Symptoms of autism show up within an age of 12 to 18 months. However, it is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms continuing in the adulthood.

Various treatments such as pharmacological therapies, occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavioural and developmental approaches targets towards the symptoms associated with ASD but the core underlying damage to the brain remains unaddressed. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising tool due to its ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissues through neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties of stem cells. In India, NeuroGen, located in Mumbai is the best centre for stem cell therapy which is headed by Dr Alok Sharma.

Here, we present a case report on how stem cell therapy by Dr Alok Sharma brings improvements in an adult with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this was published in International Biological and Biomedical Journal. Patient was a 25 year-old male diagnosed with ASD. At conception, maternal age was 37 years with complaints of high blood pressure. The child was born of caesarean delivery with normal weight. He cried immediately after birth, and had no history of neonatal illness. All his motor milestones were achieved at appropriate age, and also started schooling.  At the age of 3, he experienced the first episode of seizure followed by deterioration in speech and overall development. Symptoms such as poor eye contact, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviour also developed. The frequency of seizures was uncertain. He discontinued schooling at 3 ½ years of age and at the age of 7 years, he was diagnosed as ASD by a neurologist, based on his clinical features. He continued medications for seizures till the age of 14 years and rejoined school at the age of 23 years.

When the patient was 25 years old, Parents visited NeuroGen hospital to gather information regarding stem cell therapy for autism and to consult Dr Alok Sharma. Detailed assessment was done at NeuroGen by neurologist, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, occupational therapist and finally by Dr. Alok Sharma. At the time of assessment, patient showed symptoms such as poor cognition, problem solving skills, awareness, social interaction, fleeting eye contact, attention and concentration deficit and poor judgment skills. There was presence of stereotypical behaviour, laughing without any reason, and irrelevant motor mannerism. Functionally, he was dependent for all his activities of daily living. On Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), he scored 87 and on Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), he scored 36 suggestive of moderate autism, and on functional independence measure (FIM), he scored 65.

Before Stem cell therapy, Brain PET-CT scan of the patient showed hypometabolism in the supramarginal gyrus, thalamus, basal ganglia, medial temporal cortex and cerebellum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed no significant abnormality in the brain parenchyma. Diffused tenson imaging (DTI) fibertracking showed symmetry and normal cortico-pyramidal tracts.

The patient underwent stem cell therapy by Dr. Alok Sharma at NeuroGen hospital. Cell therapy was followed by a personalised neurorehabilitative regime which comprises of psychological intervention, special education, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy, aquatic therapy, and speech therapy. These therapies aimed at effective motor learning strategies with task oriented training. Psychological intervention aimed at improving concept and tolerance level in the patient.

Six months after stemcell therapy, when the patient was followed up, no major adverse events were recorded. Improvements were noted in symptoms such as concentration, sitting tolerance, social interaction, command following, and memory. He had more awareness regarding the surroundings. Attention while having a conversation had improved with a proper eye contact. He started to get involved in extracurricular activities like painting. Significant reduction in hyperactivity was observed. He had also achieved modified independence his ADLs (All Day Living Activities) such as bathing, and maintaining toilet hygiene. Scores of various outcome measures had improved. His CARS, ISAA and FIM scores improved from 36 to 34, 87 to 78 and 65 to 78, respectively.

PET/CT was used as a monitoring tool for establishing the effect of stem cell therapy. This tool is useful for studying the synaptic activity, neuronal function and metabolic activity of the brain. Comparative scan performed six months after stem cell therapy showed significant improvement in supramarginal gyrus, thalamus, basal ganglia and mild improvement in medial temporal cortex and cerebellum.

Thus, this suggests that cellular therapy along with neurorehablitation is safe and effective as it addresses the core neurodeficits of adult ASD. It can make the adult individuals with ASD functionally independent, and allow their amalgamation into the outside world thereby improving their quality of life.

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