ISSN: 2640-2637
Authors: Willis A and Gallicchio VS*
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable, cataclysmic motor neuron disease deteriorating the central nervous system. ALS typically has an onset between the ages of fifty to seventy-five with a higher prevalence in white males. The deterioration causes patients to gradually lose voluntary motor abilities to speak, eat, breathe, or move. The main cause of death with ALS is associated with respiratory failure within three to five years of diagnosis. The two pharmaceutical therapies for ALS approved by the FDA are the drugs of Riluzole and Edaravone, however, there has been limited success using this drug therapy. Currently, research using stem cell treatments of Neural Stem Cells (NSC), Human Bone Marrow, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC), Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), and Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells (HUCBC) have been projected as an alternative new therapeutic approach. In addition, there are promising results with the addition of lithium to stem cell therapy as a potential therapy for ALS. Stem cell therapy for ALS uses the SOD1G93A transgenic mice model. Human trials using stem cells have been conducted, but additional clinical studies need to be conducted in order to determine the most beneficial stem cell therapy for patients with ALS.
Keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Stem Cells; SOD1G93A Transgenic Mice Model; Lithium
