A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident, occurs when the blood supply to a specific region of the brain is restricted or interrupted. This restriction deprives brain cells of essential oxygen and nutrients, leading to:

- Oxygen deprivation and nutrient loss in brain cells

- Ischemia, or restricted blood flow to neural cells

- Cell damage or death due to the lack of oxygen

Strokes are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and are considered medical emergencies that require prompt treatment. Delayed treatment can lead to severe physical and mental disabilities.

There are three main types of strokes:

1. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)  Often called a "mini-stroke," this occurs when blood flow to a specific area of the brain is temporarily restricted. Symptoms usually resolve within a short period, but TIAs are warning signs of potential future strokes.

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke. This type of stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures, often due to arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or aneurysms. The leakage of blood can damage brain tissue.

3. Ischemic Stroke. The most common type of stroke, caused by a blood clot that permanently blocks the blood supply to parts of the brain. This prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain cells, leading to their death.

The primary cause of an ischemic stroke is the formation of a blood clot (thrombosis), which blocks blood flow to brain tissues. The brain requires a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients through blood flow to function properly. When a blood clot obstructs this flow, brain cells begin to die within seconds to minutes, leading to the loss of function in the affected area.

Elevated cholesterol levels can significantly contribute to thrombosis. Cholesterol plaques may rupture small blood vessels in the brain, initiating the clotting process that leads to a stroke.

Other key risk factors for stroke include:

·       Myocardial infarction (heart disease)

·       High blood pressure (hypertension)

·       Type 2 diabetes

·       Smoking and elevated LDL cholesterol levels

A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, often due to high blood pressure or other conditions affecting the integrity of blood vessels. This rupture leads to edema (swelling) in the surrounding brain tissues, damaging nearby brain structures. Unlike ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes result from bleeding rather than blood clots. 

The key symptoms of a stroke can be remembered with the acronym FAST:

·       Face Drooping: Sudden drooping on one side of the face, especially noticeable when smiling.

·       Arm Weakness: Weakness or inability to hold an arm up; the arm may drift downward.

·       Speech Problems: Slurred or difficult speech, or trouble understanding speech.

·       Time to Act: Immediate recognition of these symptoms and urgent contact with emergency services is critical.

Additional symptoms of a stroke may include:

·       Blurred vision or temporary vision loss (blackouts).

·       Spasticity or paralysis on one side of the body.

·       Numbness, severe headaches, and difficulty moving.

·       Trouble understanding speech or difficulty speaking.

Contractures(permanent muscle stiffness) may develop as a long-term complication of stroke.

Stroke treatment depends on the type of stroke and the underlying cause. Here are the primary treatment approaches:

Ischemic Stroke

The goal is to dissolve or remove the blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain. Common treatments include:

·       Aspirin or tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) injections: tPA is a clot-busting drug that must be administered within 4 hours of the stroke to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow.

·       Carotid endarterectomy: A surgical procedure to remove plaque from the carotid artery, which restores blood flow to the brain.

·       Angioplasty and stenting: A minimally invasive procedure to widen the artery and insert a stent to keep it open, improving blood flow.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Treatment focuses on stopping the bleeding and controlling complications. Key treatments include:

·       Bleeding control and blood pressure management to prevent further bleeding.

·       Seizure prevention and medications to reverse the effects of blood thinners (if the patient is on anticoagulant therapy).

·       Surgical options, such as:

o   Repair of ruptured blood vessels,

o   Aneurysm shrinkage or removal,

o   Removal of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Rehabilitation

All types of strokes require physical rehabilitation and a structured exercise plan to help restore function and minimize damage to skeletal muscles and neural pathways. Rehabilitation helps patients regain mobility, strength, and independence.

The prognosis after a stroke varies depending on how quickly treatment is initiated. With immediate treatment, many patients can achieve significant recovery and regain independence within days to weeks.

Stem cell therapy utilizes the body's natural repair mechanism to promote healing and regeneration. Stem cells, which are found in fat cells, bone marrow, and donor cord blood, have the unique ability to activate the growth of new, healthy cells in damaged tissues. In this therapy, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from donor cord blood are applied to the affected area, encouraging the body’s repair processes.

By enhancing the body’s ability to regenerate tissue, stem cell therapy boosts the natural healing mechanisms, facilitating recovery and introducing new, healthy stem cells to the site of damage.

Stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, making them a promising option for treating strokes. When administered, stem cells can stimulate the body's natural repair processes, aiding in the regeneration and replacement of damaged brain tissues.

An ischemic stroke causes extensive damage to the brain by disrupting the vascular system, neuronal connections, and cell populations. There is strong evidence supporting the regenerative potential of various types of stem cells, including adult stem cells, neural stem cells, and embryonic stem cells.

Among these, neural stem cells are considered the most suitable candidates for stroke therapy due to their ability to:

·       Naturally differentiate into mature neuronal cells,

·       Originate from the same tissue source as the damaged cells, making them ideal for neuronal repair.

Neural stem cells also play a crucial role in restoring neuronal functions by secreting neurotrophic factors such as VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). These factors contribute to:

·       Maintenance, proliferation, and generation of neurons,

·       Angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and vascular restoration in ischemic brain tissues, particularly through the action of VEGF.

Stem cell therapy offers a potential approach for repairing the brain after a stroke by promoting cell regeneration, restoring blood supply, and supporting the survival of newly formed neurons.

At Renue we believe that if you are truly interested in Healthspan (Living better, not just longer.”) then it’s important that we are aware of our Biological Age vs Chronological Age.  Remember you can”t measure success without a starting point.  With TruDiagnostic’s TruAge testy you will receive 9 personalized Epigenetic Health Scores and actionable insights to slow aging

Biological Age

How old your body is compared to your real age

Pace of Aging

How quickly you're aging each year

Organ System Ages

The age of key organs (heart, brain, liver, etc.)

Fitness Age

Your physical health based on strength, lung capacity, and movement

Smoking Impact

How smoking has affected your epigenetic age

Alcohol Impact

How alcohol consumption has influenced your health

Generally, Stem Cell Therapy has a satisfactory safety profile, good prognosis, and effectiveness. 

However, no medical procedure is 100% safe; the most frequent or common risk factors of SCT can be:

·       Bleeding from the site of injection

·       Fever

·       Painful injection area /site

·       Lethargy and fatigue

·       Allergic reactions

Bleeding and swelling of the injured site are manageable via proper technique. Allergic reactions are preventable through pre-injection history and care. Fever, lethargy, and pain are managed through the appropriate drugs along with the treatment.

The benefits and effects of Stem Cell Therapy depend on several factors: the patient's health condition, underlying issues, lifestyle, and others. To assess your expected results, we would like to know more about you. A medical advisor will talk to you about your diagnosis and treatment options and collect information for the attending physician; they can answer all your initial questions:

·       Will the therapy work for my case? 

·       What does the treatment involve? Is it painful?

·       Is it expensive? How much does it cost?