Hydrocephalus is a condition that causes fluid retention in the brain. For this reason, this disease is also called “water on the brain”. In hydrocephalus, fluid from the brain causes swelling, which is mainly due to a blockage of the brain’s ventricles, the area where brain fluid drains. In other words, when a child’s brain tends to accumulate an abnormal degree of cerebrospinal fluid, there is immense pressure on the brain tissues. Eventually, it causes swelling of the head to accommodate the extra brain fluid.

Pediatric hydrocephalus in children is the leading factor in pediatric brain surgeries in the US And most surprisingly, the condition occurs in 1 in 500 children. That makes hydrocephalus as common as Down syndrome. There is no cure for the condition, as of now, other than draining excess fluids to relieve pressure through surgical procedures. Left untreated for a long time, it can cause severe pain, mental disabilities, brain damage, and even death.

Grace, a girl was born with this condition. His parents were alerted to the condition at his 20-week ultrasound session. However, doctors had assured them that the swelling can be treated with stem cells. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Grace’s parents decided to store and preserve the umbilical cord blood at the time of Grace’s birth. Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, director of Duke’s pediatric bone marrow and transplant program, led the case.

The FDA-approved study involved storing umbilical cord blood at a freezing temperature of -300 ° F in a thermogenic liquid nitrogen freezer. Approximately 3-5 ounces of umbilical cord blood was drawn from the freezer after 90 minutes. It was saved for infusion. In the 3-5 ounces of cord blood, about 20 progenitor cells, which was explained by Dr. Kurtzberg as “has a tendency to differentiate into a specific type of cell, but is already more specific than a stem cell and she is pushed to differentiate into her “target” cell. “Science has yet to figure out how to separate these cells from the other millions of cells.” The surgery took 5 to 7 minutes and was successful.

Researchers at Duke University have taken many cases to treat hydrocephalus. The main idea is to analyze the regenerative impact on the blood vessels of the brain by using a child’s own umbilical cord blood stem cells, obtained from the umbilical cord during birth. The study showed that neural progenitor cells that perform a specific function can also repair any damaged tissue. The researchers are continuing their work with autologous cord blood stem cells to compare the results with those of patients, who never received a transplant.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells can treat more than 80 diseases. And the future looks impressive with so many clinical trials underway to reveal new areas for treating various diseases, conditions, and injuries. Hydrocephalus is one of them. With a series of online studies, we can definitely say that one day umbilical cord blood stem cells will be the answer to hydrocephalus or “water on the brain” as well.