It is Time for More Research into Umbilical Cord Stem Cells as a Potential Treatment in Neurological Diseases

Umbilical cord stem cells (UCSCs) from newborn individuals have been widely used to treat blood and immune disorders. In recent years, many public and private cord blood banks have preserved UCSCs in the hope of using them to cure diseases, especially neurological conditions. Preclinical studies showed UCSCs have considerable regenerative potential and early clinical investigations demonstrated they are safe and effective. Here, we discuss the characteristics and clinical application of UCSCs as a potential treatment for prevalent neurological disorders, based on published studies and ongoing trials registered in Clinicaltrials.gov. Despite the advantages of UCSCs compared to other stem cell sources, few published randomized and controlled clinical studies have investigated their therapeutic potential in neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury, with interesting results. Thus, there is an urgent need for more investigation, such as well-designed, phase II and III randomized and controlled clinical trials.