Dear My Parkinson's Info Reader,
The work that is occurring in stem cells appears to be accelerating. We want to be careful not to create false hope, but there is the possibility that a stem cell treatment could enter Phase I clinical trials in roughly one year.
This potential treatment comes from stem cells found in an individual's own bone marrow, which avoids the controversy and ethical struggles of using embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, the risk of rejection is small when a person is his or her own transplant donor. So there is reason for hope and optimism.
Stem cells from bone marrow have been in use for more than a decade in hospitals around the world. Bone marrow transplant as a cancer treatment is common. However, using stem cells to treat a disease in the brain is a new frontier. There will likely be challenges, surprises, and hurdles along the way. We hope science can overcome these challenges.
We hope this therapy is rescuing people from Parkinson's disease in the years to come. However, in 2007 we hope you are finding ways to live with Parkinson's disease. We hope some treatments are allowing you to spend quality time with people close to you and in activities you enjoy.
Sincerely,
Matt Nilsen, Editor
mnilsen@MyParkinsonsInfo.com
