The Use of Stem Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Research on the use of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine has shown great potential in the treatment of neurological disorders. Specifically, mesenchymal stem cells, adult stem cells from the umbilical cord and embryonic stem cells have been used in both animal models and clinical trials to treat autism spectrum disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an incurable neurological disorder characterized by behavioral and neuroanatomical abnormalities, commonly co-occurring with other neurological disorders including anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Stem cell therapies are currently being researched to alleviate the behavioral tendencies typically seen in individuals with ASD.