Does stem cell therapy work against ageing in people?
In frail older adults, stem cell therapy showed a meaningful improvement in walking ability in one study. Most other applications in people are still at an early stage of development.
One study in 148 frail older adults found that a single infusion of laromestrocel (stem cells from a donor) produced an average of 63 metres more walking distance after 9 months compared with those who received a dummy treatment. That is a clinically meaningful difference. After 6 months the advantage was 41 metres, but that fell just short of statistical significance. The lead researcher holds shares in the company behind this treatment, which is worth keeping in mind when interpreting the results.
Part of the problem lies with the stem cells themselves. As cells age, their ability to repair the body declines. This applies to the stem cells used in therapy as well: when they are 'old', they work less well. Researchers are looking for ways to reverse that ageing before the cells are given to a patient, but this is still laboratory work for now. In animal studies and experiments with cells grown in the lab, scientists have managed to 'rejuvenate' aged stem cells, but whether this also helps people in practice has not yet been shown.
Another avenue is using substances that stem cells release, such as tiny particles that can carry signals from one cell to another. In a small study of the skin, this type of treatment produced results similar to an existing therapy using platelet-rich plasma, with no clear advantage. For scars from acne or stretch marks, a summary of eleven small studies (177 people in total) found hints of improvement in skin appearance, but the numbers are too small for firm conclusions and long-term data are lacking.
For bone conditions, particularly age-related osteoporosis, researchers are investigating whether aged bone-marrow stem cells can be reactivated to slow bone loss. So far this is work done in the laboratory and in animals; studies in people do not yet exist.
The strongest evidence comes from one study in frail older adults, with a clearly positive result but also a financial interest on the part of the lead researcher. The rest of the evidence consists of summaries of small-scale laboratory and animal research, a handful of small studies in people looking at skin applications (177 people in total in one summary), and review articles that identify fundamental obstacles. For most ageing-related applications, there is still no evidence from well-designed studies in people.
Can stem cell therapy slow down or cure rheumatoid arthritis?
Stem cell therapy may be able to slow the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but it does not cure it. The research is still too limited for firm conclusions, so if you are interested, discuss it with your rheumatologist.
Do mesenchymal stem cells help against frailty in older adults?
Early studies show real improvements in walking ability and physical functioning in frail older adults, and no serious side effects were found.
Does taking resveratrol make sense as an anti-ageing supplement?
Research shows that resveratrol does not activate the mechanism behind the anti-ageing theory in people. There are small indications of benefit for muscle function in people who exercise, though that evidence is thin.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy help against ageing?
HBOT shows interesting signals in small, early studies regarding telomere length and cerebral blood flow, but the evidence is too thin and too susceptible to bias to recommend it as an anti-ageing treatment. Wait for larger, independent trials before taking on the considerable costs.
Does spermidine actually do anything against ageing?
Spermidine shows a measurable effect on the immune system in a small study of older people. Whether it genuinely slows ageing will only become clear once the large ongoing studies are complete.
How safe are stem cell treatments at foreign clinics?
Unregulated stem cell treatments at foreign clinics carry real risks, including infections, tumour formation and financial harm. Only proceed with a treatment that holds official registration, and discuss this in advance with a specialist.