Any one try stem cells for autism?

I have a 4 year old autistic son and we are taking him to panama in July sor stem cell treatment and I was just wondering if anyone on here has tried this. I have talked to many families already who have done it.

[margypops]

Hi  you may find more input if you go to the Autism Forum many good folks there ..go back to the forums page and browse through , Autism is there ..good luck I wish all the help you can get for your son .....

[Dragon1973]

HI Majikat,

There is something I wanted to add that I recently found out about Autism, (which hopefully someone has posted in the Autism forum)

Recently (according to the news and the journal Nature publication) Doctors and Scientists have discovered a genetic link to Autism, where they observed in several tested patients that there is a gene mutation in the form of duplicated or missing bits of DNA.  This is ground breaking news because now knowing that there is a genetic connection, the scientists say they can ramp up their research and that it will now lead to development of treatments for this disease.

On your question, I personally have read about Stem Cells being used for Genetic abnormalities, but there is insufficient proof that it works, and there is still a lot of controversy behind it.  There is a doctor who is performing stem cell transplants for Down syndrome, and there are a few testimonials to credit the transplants as successful.  You would have to do your own research on this topic though, I think there are quite a number of people/doctors that report that it works, and then many who say it doesn't.

Anyway, I hope that you have been able to get some further answers by visiting the Autism Community.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions that I can help you with, please feel free to message me directly.

Sincerely,
Sandi (Dragon1973)
MedHelp Genetics Community Leader;
Down syndrome Community Leader & Ds Group Forum Founder/Moderator

[Majikat]

Thank you foryour reply!!!
I have done much of my own research on the stem cell treatment for autism....I seen that it didn't help a lot to improve down syndrome, I don't remember exactly what the reason is but it has a 75% success rate with autism and an even bigger success for MS patients. It's remarkable what they have done with it there are people that havnt walked in 10 years that are now taking steps on their own, their are autistic patients that havnt been able to speak who are now using single words and so on.
When I first heard about it I thought it was possibly some kind of scam because if it's done so much good for people than why is it not approved here in canada and the united states? But after almost 2 years of of research I have come to a coclusion that my sons life is worth more than the 20,000 dollars and he deserves to try any method of treatment that shows such promising effects as long as it's safe. But thank you very much for your response I really appreciate it. We are leaving July 10th to embark on this and my nerves are already on edge.... I can't stop thinking of everything bad that could happen from the plane not making it to Hayden getting put out for a short 15 mins makes me super nervous. Thank you again :)

[April162010]

if you can afford it ..try..you never know

[pertykitty]

i cant wait to hear about your exp and results, i hope you see results!

[Majikat]

Well I took Hayden to Panama July 10th-17th over all the procedure is very quick and easy except for the part where they put him to sleep :( which must have been so scary for him... well a week after returning from Panama Hayden started saying colors and counting to 6 and he is now pointing.... his verbal skills have grown an amazing amount.... He is still stimming quite a bit but honestly i am happy with what i have been seeing.... I would have been ecstatic with the smallest bits of improvement but for anyone that has an autistic child would agree that the improvement that i have seen in Hayden is huge. I could never put a price on my sons well being I spent 20 thousand dollars on my son to help and make his life a bit better I would have paid a million to see what i am seeing..... I know that people dont have money for these kinds of treatments but i just want everyone to know that it IS worth a try i know its not guaranteed but its worth a try.... i plan on returning in 2 years for a second and last treatment for Hayden.... as for going to Panama I did not enjoy my time there at all the moment I got there I wanted to leave... I was never able to let hayden walk down the street cause of all the garbage and open holes in the grond and no we did not stay in a run down area.... they do have the biggest malls that I have ever seen.... way bigger than the ones in Toronto which is surprising for such a poor country....  

[mum2beagain]

I am very interested to hear that this went well for your son. May I ask was it his own stem cells (from his own cord blood) or was it donor stem cells that were transplanted into your son? I have a son on the spectrum myself and this particular procedure is something that we have looked into too but can't really find much info other than on a few experimental studies with a child's own cord blood.
I hope your son continues to make gains.
Best wishes.

[Majikat]

They used donated umbilical stem cells.... There are ways of doing it with stem cells from the childs bone marrow also but it's a lot more invasive I think.... That's how they do it at the place in Germany.... I am very happy with the improvements I have seen In my son I would recomend any one to give it a try