How stem cell therapy may help with Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is the gradual loss of the nerve cells that produce dopamine, the chemical the brain uses to make movement smooth. Medication replaces or mimics dopamine and works well for years, with wearing-off between doses and side effects of its own. It does not address the inflammation around the cells that remain.
- Mesenchymal stem cells are studied for their ability to reduce inflammation in the nervous system.
- Research examines how cell signalling may affect inflammation and the tissue environment. Evidence and clinical outcomes vary by application.
- Treatment is delivered intravenously, so the cells reach the brain through the circulation.
- Cells are prepared in our own laboratory and used fresh, never frozen.
- The protocol is written for your stage, your records and your goals.
Concerns to discuss with your care team
Tremor at rest
A hand, a finger or a jaw that moves when you are still, and quiets when you use it.
Slowness and stiffness
Getting up from a chair, buttoning a shirt, turning in bed, each taking longer than it did.
Balance and gait
Shorter steps, a shuffle, a pause in a doorway, and the fear of a fall that comes with them.
The hours medication does not cover
Off periods, broken sleep, low mood, and a mind that feels slower than it is.
Who may be a candidate
Adults with Parkinson’s disease diagnosed by a neurologist, whose symptoms persist or progress despite well-managed medication, may be evaluated. Candidacy is decided by our physicians after a medical review of your history, current medication and fitness to travel, never by a form. We encourage a spouse or family member to join the consultation.
Treatment is not offered where advanced disease makes travel unsafe, or where there is active infection, certain cancers, or other conditions identified in review. Where we do not believe treatment is appropriate, we will say so.
What to expect
1. Evaluation
A call with a patient advisor, then a medical review of your records, your medication and your neurologist’s notes.
2. Treatment plan
Protocol, schedule and the full investment, written for your case and discussed with you before you travel.
3. Treatment in San José
Travel and stay arranged for you. Treatment by our physicians in our Ministry of Health–licensed clinic.
4. Follow-up care
Scheduled check-ins with our team after you return home, and a report for your own physicians.
Investment
Each plan is built for one patient. In your consultation we walk through the full investment and exactly what it includes: cells, clinical care, and the arrangements around your stay.
The Cellebration approach
- Fresh, never frozen. Ask how cells are prepared and evaluated for your proposed care.
- Physician-led. Clinical decisions by our medical team, in a licensed clinic.
- An informed discussion. Review the evidence, limitations and alternatives relevant to your condition.
- Personalized support. A care team helps coordinate the treatment journey.