Regenerative Medicine

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By Carolyn Krieg, DO and Paul H. Kim, MD, Medical Institute of Healthy Aging

What is Regenerative Medicine? (or How You Can Benefit from Regenerative Medicine)

Regenerative medicine is a revolutionary approach to restoring function to the ailing body, and can improve pain syndromes and help fight off chronic disease. Present-day regenerative medicine therapies include platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell, and young blood plasma. And unlike joint replacement surgery, regenerative therapies are minimally invasive and help jump-start your body’s own natural healing process.

Treating ailments such as arthritis, tendon injuries, and joint degeneration are becoming common applications of regenerative medicine. While musculoskeletal applications such as these are becoming more and more popular, the use of these newer regenerative modalities are also being recognized as a possible intervention in chronic disease states such as Diabetes and Dementia. Although somewhat controversial in that it goes against conventional therapies like pharmaceutical drugs or surgery, Regenerative Medicine holds promise in delaying or reversing the health problems that can come with aging.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

With PRP therapy, platelets, along with red and white blood cells and

plasma, are components of your blood. The platelets contain growth hormones and cytokines that promote cellular rejuvenation and growth. To create platelet-rich plasma (PRP), your blood is collected in specialized tubes, and then it is spun in a unique centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. This PRP is then injected back into areas where you need healing, such as the knees, hips, or other joints.

Stem Cell Therapy

The objective of stem cell therapy is to create an environment of healing and restoration that is lost or diminished with aging. What makes stem cells so valuable in this process is that they have the ability to mature into various types of cells (such as cartilage or tendon cells) when exposed to the proper signaling. Stem cells may also serve as an initial repair system in many tissues and may migrate toward particular tissues, if needed. They can also act as a “scaffold” to revive tissues that have been dormant in the body, thus inhibiting the negative changes in your body that accompany aging.

Stem cells are collected from umbilical cords and placentas, and do not harm baby or mother in the process. These tissues contain unique multipotent and, possibly, pluripotent, mesenchymal stem cells. Stem cells are responsible for maintaining healthy supportive tissue production throughout your life, so they’re incredibly versatile and reparative. They improve the overall quality of your tissue in terms of robustness, and can also boost or balance your immune system when infused into your system intravenously.

Stem cells are injected into areas that need rejuvenation and healing, such as an injured or arthritic knee joint to help healthy tissue regenerate, without the invasiveness of surgery and joint replacement. Stem cells can also be infused intravenously.

Young Blood Plasma

Young blood plasma treatments also create an environment of healing and restoration that is lost or diminished with aging. Men and women alike get a boost of youthful energy from young blood plasma treatments, which are intravenous transfusions of plasma from teenagers and young adults. Research in animals shows that an infusion of this young blood plasma has positive effects on the brain and can slow cognitive decline.

To learn how you can benefit from regenerative medicine therapies, call the Medical Institute of Healthy Aging or book an appointment online.