Stem cells in 20 years from now
Stem cell research is one of the most exciting areas of medical advancement in the world today. Although surrounded by much controversy in certain areas such as the use of embryonic stem cells for which embryos must be destroyed, there are also adult stem cell experiments taking place and many people feel that what could ultimately result from using stem cells for medicine would more than justify any ethical qualms. A large number of scientists believe that within as small a timescale as 20 years we may well understand most of the uses of both embryonic and adult stem cells for treatment, so what exactly will this mean for us?
Stem cells are quite incredible from a medical point of view. There are two kinds of stem cell, the embryonic stem cell and the adult stem cell. They can be grown and transformed into several kinds of specialized cell such as muscle and nerve cells to help give the body’s regenerative abilities a boost during the healing process. Stem cell research is by no means new and has actually been used successfully for years to treat leukemia and related cancers via bone marrow transplants. They also have application in veterinary medicine to treat tendon injuries in horses. There are also already stories appearing about people who have had revolutionary treatments using stem cells, such as a 52 year old man in the UK who after being paralyzed from the chest down for 20 years after breaking his neck underwent stem cell treatment and has started to regain feeling and strength in his legs, back and stomach and may one day be able to walk again.
Stem cells could potentially be used to treat a wide range of conditions, some quite severe. There will likely be stem cell treatments for diabetes mellitus and heart disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Stem cell treatments could also help to repair the nerve damage of certain cases of paralysis, enabling people to walk again or to regain the use of a limb. These treatments could all be available one day as over the counter medicines available in a pharmacy, or at the least available on prescription from your family doctor.
The most exciting part of all this possibility is the fact that stem cell research and the benefits it brings is not some distant futuristic dream. While most people may still be unaware exactly how much stem cell research has advanced our medical science today, the fact that we are currently using this technology to “cure” paralysis speaks for itself. It is becomingly increasingly apparent that we may see full stem cell medial development in 10 years time rather than the full “20 years on from now”. While we still do not know exactly what the future will bring when it comes to stem cell medical development, it is certainly looking more than just a little bright with these recent developments. If more cases of paralysis can be treated effectively using this technology, it’s certainly providing a ray of hope that has been sorely needed for a very long time.
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