Studies are only in very early stages of examining how stem cells might be used to treat cerebral palsy, and there are currently no approved stem cell treatments for cerebral palsy. Various new strategies are being explored using stem cells, but it is unlikely that any of them will offer a full cure. Instead, they aim to limit the damage to cells in the brain and reduce the symptoms.

Developing new drugs

Our brains naturally contain stem cells capable of making neurons and the many other cells that make up the brain. Another possible route for treating cerebral palsy is to develop drugs that encourage a patient’s own stem cells to become more active, create new cells and repair damaged areas in the brain. Researchers hope studies on brain stem cells and nerve cells in the lab will help identify the kinds of drugs that could be useful for this purpose.

Replacing lost or damaged cells

The brain and spinal cord contain cells called ‘neural precursor cells’, which can develop into the specialised cells of the brain. One idea is that these neural precursor cells could be transplanted into cerebral palsy patients or used to make new nerve cells in the lab to replace lost cells in the patient’s brain. This, however, is a long-term goal, and not currently approved for use in humans. Another type of cells, ‘mesenchymal stromal cell’ are also being investigated.

Although not fully understood, it has been suggested that these cells have the ability to travel to the damaged areas of the brain and release substances that stimulate the body’s own repair systems and support the recovery of nerve cells. More research is required to evaluate this possible option. 

Each case of cerebral palsy is unique, making understanding the causes and implications of this disability very difficult.

How the brain develops in humans and animals are incredibly different. This makes studying and testing new treatments for brain developmental disorders exceptionally difficult and results found in animals may not translate to humans.

Using stem cells to rebuild the brain of cerebral palsy patients will be incredibly challenging because new cells and neurons will have to be correctly wired into complex networks of thousands of other neurons in the brain.

There are a number of sites that list clinical trials, including the clinicaltrials.gov registry. Please note that the scientific justification for the intervention and the credentials of those offering the service may have NOT been fully evaluated by this registry. Your findings may include listings that are NOT legitimate clinical trials. Please consult with your medical specialist or general practitioner as they are best placed to advise you on whether you would be a good candidate for a trial given your circumstances. 

Please note: Although some clinics may claim to already offer stem cell treatments for various forms of cerebral palsy, there are serious questions about the scientific rationale and the safety of many of these approaches. Currently, there are no proven, safe and effective stem cell treatments for this condition available in Australia, the EU, US or elsewhere.