Can stem cell therapy slow down ALS?
Stem cell therapy has not yet been proven effective in ALS patients; the procedure appears to be safely feasible, but whether it slows the disease is currently unknown.
In animal studies, stem cell therapy looks promising. In mice with an ALS-like condition, stem cell treatment improved both survival and movement. Interestingly, the stem cells barely settle in the nervous system itself. They appear to work through indirect means, such as reducing inflammation, lowering a substance that damages nerve cells, and decreasing harmful processes in the spinal cord.
In people, the data are far more modest. Small early studies, with seven to a handful of patients, tested whether stem cells could be safely injected into the spinal cord. Both neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells proved technically feasible to administer without major immediate safety concerns. But none of these studies was designed to measure whether patients actually improved.
Whether stem cell therapy slows ALS in people has not yet been shown. Studies in which one group of patients receives the treatment and a comparable group does not have not been completed so far. Without that comparison, you cannot conclude that the treatment works.
Scientists also expect that stem cells alone will probably not be enough, given how complex ALS is. They are thinking about combinations with other agents, such as substances that protect nerve cells or reduce inflammation. What such a combination should look like remains entirely open.
This answer draws on eight review studies and a handful of early studies in people involving small groups of patients. The animal research is more consistent and further advanced; the data from studies in people are limited to safety observations in very small numbers of participants. No completed study in people comparing a treated group with an untreated group is available, which means cause and effect in humans cannot be established.
What helps against osteoarthritis (joint degeneration)?
Supervised exercise therapy and diclofenac gel have the strongest evidence base in osteoarthritis. Paracetamol and opioids work less well than many people think; discuss medication choices with your doctor, especially if you have heart or stomach complaints.
Can I prevent or slow down early hearing loss?
Hearing loss caused by noise and by certain medications is very preventable, but for age-related hearing loss no proven interventions yet exist. The greatest gain comes from protecting your ears from loud sounds now.
What are the symptoms of an underactive thyroid?
An underactive thyroid produces vague complaints such as fatigue, weight gain and cold intolerance, but the diagnosis can only be made through a blood test. If you have recognised several complaints for a while, discuss them with your general practitioner.
Do GLP-1 medications help with Parkinson's disease?
GLP-1 agents are showing preliminary positive signals on motor decline in Parkinson's disease, but the studies are still too small and too short-term for a clear conclusion. If you have Parkinson's disease or diabetes and want to know whether this is relevant for you, discuss it with your neurologist.
Can oestrogen cream help with urinary tract inflammation?
Vaginal oestrogen cream clearly reduces the risk of recurring urinary tract infections in women after the menopause, and applying it around the urethra works just as well as inserting it deeper. Discuss it with your doctor, as the treatment is not yet officially approved for this purpose everywhere.
How do I keep my joints supple and prevent osteoarthritis?
Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are the best-supported ways to prevent osteoarthritis and manage symptoms; however, no treatment stops the disease once it has begun.