Since Canadian scientists Ernest McCulloch and James Till began extensive research on stem cells in the 1960s, stem cell therapy has become a highly controversial topic in politics and moral discussions. Stem cells promote regeneration and growth due to their ability to divide multiple times. These “miracle cells” have been successfully used to treat certain illnesses, particularly those that are cardiovascular and neural in nature.

How can stem cells help in the anti-aging battle? With their innate ability to regenerate tissues and transform into virtually any other cell type, stem cells are capable of improving conditions that may lead to premature aging and may have qualities that can encourage skin tissue regeneration and renewal that can reverse certain signs of aging. Research, however, primarily supports stem cells as a way to improve the health of patients with specific conditions rather than as an anti-aging tool.

Stem cell research and therapy falls into two categories: adult stem cell therapy and embryonic stem cell therapy.

Adult Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells are the basic growth cells found in the human body. For decades, it was commonly believed by scientists that these cells had regenerative qualities that could prove beneficial in treatments of chronic illnesses; however, it was also believed that these cells could only regenerate into the tissue from which they came. We now know that stem cells located in the adult brain and spinal cord, as well as the umbilical cord, are capable of regenerating most other human cells. Essentially, it is possible to reprogram these cells to reproduce in areas of the body where other cells may have been damaged. Minimal studies have been conducted on the use of adult stem cell therapy as it relates to anti-aging. However, adult stem cell therapy does carry the benefit of simply relocating cells within the same body, eliminating the compatibility risks associated with injecting cells from a foreign source.

Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy

By far the most controversial stem cell treatment, embryonic stem cell therapy has shown success in treating damaged nerve, blood, skin, and muscle cells. The ability of embryonic stem cells to replace defective cells in various tissues throughout the body makes it conducive to treating symptoms of aging. Unfortunately, these stem cells must be extracted directly from the embryo, a process that effectively destroys the embryo. This has created a great deal of controversy from a moral perspective and, therefore, limits the opportunity to conduct clinical studies on the effect embryonic stem cells have on symptoms of aging. There has been some progress made in finding ways to extract the stem cells without damaging the embryo, but this remains a hot topic.

For information on wrinkle creams that can fight the signs of aging and take years off your appearance, click here.