United States: Japanese stem cell specialist Hideyuki Okano established a new treatment approach using stem cells to give hope for recovery to disabled patients.
A patient participated in a stem cell trial conducted by researchers who managed to enable his ability to stand up.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports indicate that 1.3 billion individuals face substantial disability in their lives.
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The population consists of people with motor disabilities who cannot use their legs for support. The team of researchers led by Hideyuki Okano of Keio University in Japan succeeded in making a paralyzed patient both stand and start walking once more.
The researchers achieved this milestone after administering stem cells for spinal cord “reprogramming” through a basic injection.
The information transmission gateway of the body exists in the spinal cord, which operates as a large nerve structure connecting the brainstem to the spinal lower region.
Breaking barriers! 🚀 A paralyzed man is walking again thanks to a revolutionary spinal cord "reprogramming" in Japan. Could this be the dawn of a new era for disability treatment? 🌟🤔 #MedicalMiracle #Innovation https://t.co/gPFne1JOzf
— Glass Almanac (@glassalmanac) May 4, 2025
Spinal cord damage blocks vital communication between brain and body parts, thus leading to complete paralysis of some body regions when severe.
iPS Cells Show Promise
Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported on March 23, 2025, that Hideyuki Okano, together with his team, gave two million “induced pluripotent stem cells” (or iPS cells) to patients.
IPS cells originate from regular adult cells, which scientists have converted into cells that resemble embryonic states while retaining strong healing capabilities.
The cells possess the biological ability to develop into neurons. These cells began generating new glial cells and neurons through the post-injection process to support the nervous system after the procedure.
The research team performed treatment on four patients from 2021 to 2023.
Treatment Timing Key to Recovery Success
Two patients among these four demonstrated substantial recovery of their motor abilities after cells were put into their brains.
No severe side effects appeared after the team conducted their procedure since the year of follow-up passed without incident.
The medical staff gave the injections to the patients within a span of two to four weeks after their accidents occurred. The success of this treatment seems to rely heavily on the choice of time for administration.
Experts Urge Further Research
Neuroscientist James St John from Australia suggests that positive results from the research need further evaluation.
During a Nature News article interview from March 24, 2025, he stressed the importance of performing additional studies.
The researcher mentioned that natural recovery may have occurred in the two patients who showed limited motor function improvement.