New study shows stem cell therapy helps brain injuries

By Dalia Dangerfield, Reporter Last Updated: Saturday, December 14, 2013, 8:48 PM TAMPA --

USF researchers believe stem cell therapy can help men and women with mild brain injuries.

This is quite a phenomenal observation, said Dr. Cesar Borlongan, a neuroscientist from USF Health. In our hands, stem cell therapy may offer this hope for the soldiers to prevent the progression of the disease and hopefully we can stop the disease process at the early stage."

In a recent study Borlongan injected adult stem cells in rats with traumatic brain injury. The stem cells served as a bridge, allowing new brain cells to move up to the damaged part of the brain.

That's a new concept, it's like the cells are very smart, said Borlongan.

Over time the adult stem cells helped partially repair the brain damage in rats.

Professor Borlongan believes the same may be true for humans allowing them to slowly get better.

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New study shows stem cell therapy helps brain injuries