Author: Dr. Deniz Kök
Introduction: When the Nervous System Demands More Than Management
In clinic, what I often hear from patients goes far beyond the textbook definition of symptoms. One woman told me, “Some days, I feel like I’m fading out of my own life.” These moments speak to something much deeper than pain or tremors — they reveal how neurological disorders can chip away at a person’s identity, not just their body.
Over the years, I’ve worked with individuals facing a wide range of these conditions — from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease to the aftereffects of stroke or persistent neuropathic pain. By the time they reach me, many have already spent years trying medications, adapting to physical therapy routines, and consulting specialist after specialist. Often, they come in tired, uncertain, but still holding on to hope for something different.
That difference, in my experience, began when I explored regenerative approaches — not as a rejection of conventional care, but as a complement to it. When I first started working with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in neurological protocols, it wasn’t because I was chasing an easy solution. It was because I saw the limitations of existing tools and believed the biology offered another layer of support we hadn’t been using.
This therapy isn’t about promising miracles. It’s about supporting something that many nervous systems have lost — the conditions needed for recovery.
Understanding Neurological Disorders — What I See in the Clinic
In my consultations, the details patients share vary, but the emotional undercurrent is often the same — they describe feeling unstable in a body or mind they once trusted.
Take someone living with multiple sclerosis: one day they’re managing fine, and the next they’re hit with overwhelming fatigue, strange numbness, or a fog that makes work impossible. These symptoms don’t always follow rules — that unpredictability is part of the challenge.
A patient in the early phase of Parkinson’s disease might come in because of a slight tremor, but the real concern emerges later — the stiffness, the hesitation, the growing sense that movements are no longer effortless.
After a stroke, people often describe starting over. Speech may return slowly. Balance might come and go. Even a once-familiar room can feel like unfamiliar terrain.
With peripheral neuropathy, especially related to diabetes, the sensations aren’t just discomfort — they’re disorienting. Burning, tingling, or numbness can make something as basic as walking barefoot across the floor feel risky.
And then there are the post-viral cases, often after COVID-19. Patients talk about a lingering haze — not being able to focus, recall words, or function at their previous pace. They don’t feel acutely ill, but they also don’t feel fully recovered.
What ties all of these conditions together isn’t a single diagnosis — it’s the underlying disruption they share. Whether triggered by an autoimmune reaction, infection, or degenerative process, these disorders often involve:
- Chronic inflammation
- Immune dysregulation
- Cellular stress and oxidative damage
- Degeneration of nerve structures
- And perhaps most critically, a loss of the nervous system’s ability to repair itself
This breakdown in healing capacity is where regenerative medicine, particularly stem cell therapy, may offer support.
How Stem Cells Fit Into Neurological Care
Incorporating stem cells into neurological care isn’t about offering shortcuts or bypassing conventional medicine. It’s about acknowledging that, in many of these conditions, the body’s internal repair system needs reinforcement.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in particular, have drawn attention not because they turn into neurons — but because they create conditions that support neurons. They operate more like biological mediators than replacements.
When MSCs are introduced into the body, especially in the context of neurological disease, they tend to respond to signals from distressed tissue. Their effects include:
- Regulating overactive immune activity, which is especially relevant in conditions like multiple sclerosis
- Reducing inflammation, creating a more favorable environment for healing
- Releasing protective and growth-stimulating factors, such as BDNF and NGF, which nourish and support neurons
- Encouraging remyelination, by supporting cells involved in restoring damaged nerve insulation
- Improving microcirculation, which can enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery to vulnerable brain areas
These are not theoretical effects — they’ve been observed in both laboratory studies and, increasingly, in clinical settings.
The Scientific Basis for Therapy
For years, stem cell therapy was viewed as an emerging idea — promising, but lacking large-scale clinical data. That’s changed. We now have multiple published studies documenting the safety and potential benefits of MSCs in neurological disorders.
One example: a 2021 randomized controlled trial published in Frontiers in Neurology evaluated patients with multiple sclerosis. Those who received MSC therapy showed fewer relapses, better physical functioning, and lower levels of inflammatory markers compared to controls.
PubMed: 34326725
A 2022 study in Stem Cells Translational Medicine examined stroke patients during recovery and found that MSCs helped improve motor performance and brain perfusion.
PubMed: 35693382
In 2023, a review published in Cells focused on Parkinson’s disease and highlighted how MSCs may protect dopamine-producing neurons, reduce oxidative stress, and ease motor symptoms.
PubMed: 36788151
The research continues, but the direction is encouraging — particularly when stem cells are used as part of a personalized, well-monitored treatment strategy.
Who Is a Good Candidate for This Therapy?
Not every patient with a neurological condition is an ideal candidate for stem cell therapy. Success depends on timing, overall health, the degree of neurological damage, and how much regenerative potential remains.
In my clinic, I consider MSC therapy for individuals with:
- Neuropathy that significantly disrupts sleep, movement, or independence
- Post-viral neurological issues, particularly lingering cognitive symptoms after COVID-19
- Mild cognitive impairment, provided dementia has not progressed too far
- MS or Parkinson’s disease in early to moderate stages
- Stroke recovery, especially when rehabilitation has reached a plateau but some function remains
We begin with a full evaluation — including imaging, neurological exams, bloodwork, and a thorough discussion of goals and risks. Therapy is only offered if I believe it has a biological rationale and measurable chance of benefit.
What the Treatment Involves
1. Clinical Assessment
We start with a full neurological evaluation. This includes a detailed patient history, brain and spinal imaging (MRI or CT), and blood tests to evaluate immune and metabolic status. We also define goals and identify whether stem cell therapy is likely to be beneficial.
2. Personalized Therapy Plan
Depending on the diagnosis, patients may receive:
- Intravenous MSC infusion to promote systemic regulation and reduce inflammation
- Intrathecal injection (into the cerebrospinal fluid) if direct central nervous system delivery is indicated
- Supportive therapies, such as neurotrophic supplementation, antioxidant protocols, or neurorehabilitation
3. Treatment Session
Procedures are conducted in a sterile outpatient setting. Treatments typically last one to two hours. Patients are monitored during and after the session and can usually return to light activities the next day.
4. Follow-Up and Monitoring
We reassess at 1, 3, and 6 months. Clinical evaluations, imaging, and optional EEG or lab work help monitor progress. Ongoing support may include cognitive training, diet, and lifestyle guidance.
What Patients Often Experience
Improvement can show up in different ways. For some, it starts with more clarity in thought. Others notice better balance, reduced pain, or simply more energy. Some effects are gradual; others are noticed within weeks.
My patients have reported:
- Less brain fog and clearer speech
- Fewer relapses in MS
- Improved gait and mobility after stroke
- Reduced nerve pain or burning
- Better focus, mood, and sleep
“After 12 years of living with MS, I had no expectations left. But since my stem cell therapy, I walk without my cane, my scans look better, and I feel mentally clear for the first time in years.”
— Emre T., Türkiye
About Our Stem Cell Source: Quality, Safety, and Ethics
We work exclusively with our Stem Cell Laboratory in Istanbul — a GMP-certified, Ministry of Health–licensed stem cell laboratory. Their quality control is among the best I’ve seen.
Source and Ethics
Cells are ethically sourced from umbilical cord tissue donated after the birth of healthy babies. Parents provide informed consent. The process is safe, non-invasive, and fully compliant with international bioethics standards.
Safety Protocols
Each batch is tested for:
- HIV, Hepatitis B and C
- CMV, EBV
- Mycoplasma and bacterial contamination
- Endotoxins and sterility
Cryopreservation and Quality Control
Cells are stored at −196 °C to ensure longevity and therapeutic potency. All batches are confirmed to:
- Express key MSC markers (CD73, CD90, CD105)
- Lack hematopoietic markers (CD34, CD45)
- Demonstrate multipotency via differentiation tests
- Be traceable from donor to recipient
Patients deserve to know that the stem cells they receive are not only effective, but ethically and scientifically vetted.
References
- Riordan NH, et al. (2021). “MSC treatment in MS: Immune and neurofunctional outcomes.” Frontiers in Neurology.
PubMed: 34326725 - Park HJ, et al. (2022). “MSC therapy post-stroke improves motor function and blood flow.” Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
PubMed: 35693382 - Moreno C, et al. (2023). “Mesenchymal stem cells in Parkinson’s disease: neuroprotection and repair.” Cells.
PubMed: 36788151