How Cell Therapy could Aid Kids with Autism

Autism is no longer a new phenomenon in today’s society. In fact, as early as the 1940s, cases of autism have already been observed in children. Since then, various theories and researches have been developed and conducted in an attempt to provide answers to questions, or a cure, even. However, Lulu Quijano, M.A. Ed., an instructor from the University of the Philippines in Diliman who majors in Special Education, states that autism must be viewed in a different light. “There is no cure for autism for it is not a disease, it is a disorder,” she says.  “Although children with autism undergo treatments like speech therapy for their delayed speech or behavior therapy to manage their behavior, the end goal for all children or people with autism is to be able to function along with their families and peers and be able to cope with their environment.”  

And yet, even without a cure at present, experts continue to make promises of improving the children’s quality of life. Such a promise is seen in Cell Therapies used to address autism in children. Although considered as an unconventional method, cell therapies have already been around for a while, slowly making meaningful milestones in the treatment of autism.

Stem Cell and Fresh Cell Therapy
Janise Tang Piap, Country Manager of Villa Medica Philippines (one of the only few approved clinics in the world to administer Fresh Cell Therapy) and mother to 10-year old Ethan, who has autism, shares that although both stem and fresh cells are being used for autism treatment, there is a distinction between Stem Cell Therapy and Fresh Cell Therapy (FCT).

“FCT is the use of fresh or live cells or cell extracts of donor animals, usually sheep, which is injected into the human body for treatment of various ailments, rejuvenation purposes or for the repair of tissues and organs,” she states. “Stem Cell Therapy usually utilize cells from human donors in the form of autologous cells, umbilical cord cells and human fetal cells, among others.” In recent years, a technology to preserve and freeze-dry stem cells for future use has been made available.  

Piap explains that her choice for her son’s treatment was Fresh Cell Therapy.  “Studies and our patient history have shown that using FCT provides a more effective approach due to the cells’ ability to repair specific organs and poses no threat of rejection,” she shares. “The science behind FCT has been around since the early 1930’s and Villa Medica, the center that provided FCT for my son has been around for more than 40 years.”

Though varying in the cells used, both treatments can be said to operate on the theory that “Like cures like.” As in the concept of a transplant, these stem or fresh cells that are introduced to the body disperse and help in the repair or regeneration of damaged tissues or cells. The cells contain active healing elements that target organs needing revitalization, including those which are difficult to cure. The body then comes out renewed into a healthier state.

The Process
a. Pre-Treatment
Piap explains that before the treatment, there is a blood test required in order to determine if the child is suitable for FCT.  “The child’s personal information and medical history is also needed.  All of these are submitted to our doctor for assessment.”

b. Administration
The manner in which the cells are introduced to the body influenced Piap’s decision to have her son undergo FCT. “It is intra-muscular, and for a child, it’s relatively pain-free unlike other stem cell procedures that are administered via IV (intravenous),” she shares. “It’s very similar to getting a vaccine. It’s a total of nine tailor-made injections with specific organs based on the client’s health conditions. The administering is done so quickly it usually takes less than 3 minutes to complete the entire procedure.

c. Post-Treatment
“Ethan was made to rest for the next 24 hours after the treatment,” explains Piap. “After that, he was able to resume his regular activities, but at a controlled pace to give the cells maximum healing capacity.”

d. Repeat Sessions
There is no pre-determined number of sessions to ensure success on patients, since “each child with autism is different, with some being more high functioning than others. Some have severely damaged internal organs while others do not have this problem. Therefore, repairing these tissue and organs may not be completed with just one Fresh Cell therapy. In some cases, it may take 2-3 treatments for more visible results.”

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The Effects
Quijano explains how autism is a disorder characterized by severe difficulties in social interaction and communication and with unusual behaviors usually displayed by the age of 3. Researchers say that autism is caused by abnormal brain functioning which is due to genetic or prenatal environmental factors. “Children with autism display deficits in 3 core areas of functioning. First, they have limited ability for interaction of nonverbal behaviors such as eye gazing, facial expressions, imitation and give and take. Second, their language is delayed and only echoes what others say. Lastly, they are less engaged in make-believe play. They cannot do pretend play,” she stresses.

With FCT, Piap has seen significant changes in Ethan’s behavior and characteristics. “The first and immediate improvement I noticed with Ethan after the first treatment is that he is a lot calmer now and has better eye contact. After a few weeks, his speech was clearer although he only spoke a few spontaneous words,” she shares. “After his second treatment, which was 6 months after his first, we noticed better comprehension and enhanced speech. He also started to take piano lessons, which to me was amazing because it was new to him and I had no idea how he was going to learn the basic concept of playing a musical instrument.”

Piap is indeed thrilled with the changes she continues to see in her son. “Ethan has improved by leaps and bounds. He does things now that I would have never imagined that he would do. He is more independent. He is now reading with comprehension and is able to answer questions that require him to recall the story he just read. He shows more emotion and has developed play skills.”

However, Piap reminds parents that every child with autism is different.  Results may vary from child to child, depending on their medical history. “Other children experience less allergies, less or no seizures, become less violent after Fresh Cell therapy or others fully improve from the latter behaviors.”

She is also quick to say that FCT is not the end-all and be-all of autism treatments. While this treatment does hold a lot of promise, 100% effectivity is not guaranteed and it will not magically bring about the improvements desired from a child with autism by itself. “Fresh Cell Therapy goes hand in hand with other therapies for children with Autism,” she shares. “I noticed that Ethan had better comprehension after FCT and therefore he was able to do better in his therapy sessions and was progressing faster with his program.”

The Road Less Traveled
Cell Therapy, despite being around for more than three decades already and having a positive record on autism treatment, is still not widely accepted in the medical field. The jump then from traditional to progressive medical treatments may prove to be a decision that parents may find themselves hesitating to make.  

“People are naturally reluctant to try anything that is unfamiliar. Raising awareness on the treatment will take some time but I am hopeful this can be overcome,” she shares. With Ethan, she says the reason they decided to try it was because “we had already spent so much on different types of therapies but did not see any dramatic improvements. As a mother, I don’t want that day to come when I would regret not doing it for him. I’m so happy I did the therapy for Ethan. It was the best decision we ever made for him.”

Trekking into the unknown is not always easy and so, extra measures must then be taken in considering this treatment for your child with special needs.

1. Know your child.
Quijano stresses how important it is to be completely knowledgeable of your child’s history before getting into any treatment to know if it would be a fit for him. “Understand first the condition of your child with autism. One has to read about autism, its characteristics and possible causes. “

2. Research.
“If they are considering stem cell therapy for their child with autism, they have to read on the pros and cons of it and the effects of the treatment to their child. They also have to know the risks it would have on their child,” says Ms. Quijano.  Piap adds that reading up on it allows parents to make good decisions about their child’s condition. “I have a son with a damaged brain, a low functioning liver and a damaged intestinal tract. These are the organs that needed to be repaired in order for him to function properly. Because FCT is organ specific, I knew this would be the best way for them to be repaired.”

3. Gather facts.
Piap reminds parents to get information from credible and unbiased sources.  “People have their own personal beliefs about Cell Therapy.  Asking the wrong person could prevent their loved ones from receiving a treatment that could greatly benefit them.  Gather the scientific facts and weigh the situation with great care.”

4. Make it easy for your child.
It’s easy to get lost in the abundance of treatments available for autism today.  The important thing to remember then would be to make sure that the child is able to transition well into the treatment with his parents’ love and support.  “Children with autism should be treated with love and understanding. Even with their condition, children with autism need to understand why they are undergoing different therapies and the treatment that their parents want for them,” shares Quijano.