Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Therapy for Autism

Dozens of clinical trials conducted by researchers have demonstrated the safety of using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. We can be certain that stem cells will not in any way harm the patient.

We are sure both of the general safety of stem cells and of the safety of MSC obtained from umbilical cord blood and placentas, which we use in our clinic:

Safety of stem cells in general. MSCs have immunomodulatory properties, which means they can reduce inflammation and inhibit immune reactions that could lead to tissue damage or rejection. They also typically lack MHC Class II molecules, making them less likely to trigger an immune response.

It’s important to notice that although stem cell therapy is considered safe, an overdose can prove quite harmful: the possible consequences include vascular overload, blood clots, and retention in the lungs, which may result in respiratory failure. That is why, for safety reasons, we determine the dose for every patient individually, never exceeding the maximum safe dose.

Safety of the product that we use. MSCs derived from umbilical cords and placentas are harvested in a sterile environment, ensuring there is no risk of contamination. These tissues are usually discarded after childbirth, making the harvesting process ethically straightforward and non-invasive. Before donating the cells, the donors undergo a complete medical examination to ensure their health, lack of infections, and possible aggravating factors.

Before being used in treatments, MSCs undergo a series of rigorous tests to ensure their purity, viability, and sterility. This includes checks for bacterial, fungal, and viral contamination, as well as genetic and molecular testing to confirm their identity and function.

You can learn more about the safety of stem cells in our article.

Usually the results present themselves in 1–3 months after the treatment, with the peak at 6 months and up to 1 year. Sometimes the first signs of improvement can be seen during the course of treatment. It is important to notice that the younger the patient, the better the potential results.

Stem cells can last in a patient’s body for up to 6–8 months. While present in the body, they create a window of opportunity for the child to learn new things and develop skills, such as eye contact, self-care basics, communication skills, and so on.

Whatever the child will be able to learn during that period will stay with them forever, meaning that the improvement will be stable and there will be no regress to the pre-treatment state.

One treatment at the clinic typically lasts from 3 to 9 days. There is typically one injection a day plus a couple of non-invasive procedures, like inhalations.

If the results are satisfactory, you can come again and repeat the treatment to maximize the improvements. We usually recommend that patients come to the next treatment no sooner than 6 months after the previous one.

We use cord blood and placental stem cells, which are administered by intravenous and intramuscular injections. To ensure patient comfort, we use mild sedation when necessary. Our treatment also includes exosome inhalation.

It depends on the patient’s condition and the type of administration, but for safety reasons, we typically introduce no more than 3 mln cells per kilogram of the child’s body weight when administered intravenously.

Although 80% of our patients report improvements, stem cell therapy is not a magic pill. The autism spectrum disorder is not a disease per se and has no known cure. But the possible improvements are nothing to dismiss:

• better eye contact;
• better communication, both verbal and non-verbal;
• better contact with parents, peers, and other people;
• better hygiene skills;
• enhanced focus;
• diminished aggression and autoaggression;
• better appetite and fewer gastrointestinal problems.

The individual results vary depending on the age, severity of the condition, and other factors.

The side effects are only temporary and may occur directly after the procedure: basically, a slight increase in temperature over the course of several hours, nausea, or general malaise—and even those side effects only happen in 5% of cases.

There are no lasting side effects.

Technically, yes, but we generally advise against it.

Firstly, donor cells take about a month to be cultivated, which would mean you’d have to come to the clinic twice: first for harvesting the cells, and then for an actual treatment for the child. Secondly, the ASD can sometimes be genetic, which means that the parent’s stem cells might not be as effective in treating autism in the child as the donor cells with no ASD history in the family. And last, compared to donor stem cells from the placenta or umbilical cord, adult donor’s cells are typically fewer in number and less active.

For these reasons, we generally recommend using cells from a donor who is not a patient’s parent, with all the necessary safety checks and precautions. However, you can always discuss this issue with your consulting doctor and reach a final decision together.

The risk of cancer is only present when using embryonic or fetal stem cells. However, at our clinic, we exclusively use adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for therapy.

These stem cells are derived from adult tissues and not from fetuses or embryos. Consequently, MSCs do not possess the capacity for uncontrolled differentiation and tumor formation. Extensive research has demonstrated the safety profile of MSCs, providing reassurance regarding their use in therapeutic applications.

Additionally, before being used in treatments, MSCs undergo rigorous testing to ensure their purity, viability, and sterility, including checks for any genetic mutations that could lead to cancer.

However, if a child already has an oncology, this will prove to be a contraindication to stem cell treatment, as stem cells can potentially stimulate already existing cancer cells to multiply further.

About 80% of our patients show improvements, like better eye contact, better communication, improved hygiene skills, and diminished aggression and autoaggression.

However, individual results may vary depending on the age, severity of the condition, and other factors.

It is understandable, and we are used to such conditions. Here is what we do to ensure the treatment is both effective and comfortable for our patients.

Trained medical staff: Our staff is trained to work with children with ASD. They soothe and calm the child, talk to them in a playful, soothing manner, and restrain them very gently, if necessary. The reviews speak very highly of our staff and their conduct. The parents are also present with the child during all procedures.

Homely atmosphere: To make our clinic look less like a hospital to the child, we perform some procedures in the room, which is designed to look like a bedroom in a house.

Mild sedation when necessary: A mild sedative can be given to a child to calm them down and help the staff with the procedures.

For our standard ASD treatment program, we admit children over 3 years of age and weighing over 15 kilograms.

However, we also have a «light»-treatment program for both ASD and children with developmental delays, where children over 1 year of age can already be admitted.

Technically, we might. But the brain of an adult patient is already developed, and there is not much that stem cell therapy can help with. The younger the patient, the better the result can potentially be.

However, in our practice, there are cases where therapy has helped adult patients with ASD better adapt to society and cope with ADHD symptoms.

Some of the contraindications to stem cell treatment for ASD patients are:

• under 1 year of age;
• history of cancer;
• some types of epilepsy.

The possibility of admission for treatment is determined by the consulting doctor individually in each case. For this reason, we encourage you to book a free consultation with us and discuss possible options.

The results vary depending on the children’s age and conditions, but the most commonly seen improvements are:

• better eye contact;
• better communication, both verbal and non-verbal;
• better contact with parents, peers, and other people;
• better hygiene skills;
• enhanced focus;
• diminished aggression and autoaggression;
• better appetite and fewer gastrointestinal problems.

You can look up the reviews from the patients’ parents on our YouTube channel or contact us to request cases’ reports.

At the clinic, we have our own kitchen and cooks. We provide meals for the child and the accompanying parents, including special requests—we know that children with ASD can be picky eaters. Needless to say, there is also a space to play for the children.

We also have a speech therapy specialist and an occupational therapist to work with the child if needed.