Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Review of Current Evidence and Therapeutic Perspectives

Abstract

Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord injury, are associated with neuronal damage, neuronal loss, inflammation, and impaired neurological function and remain major challenges in medicine. Despite advances in pharmacological, surgical, and rehabilitative interventions, many of these disorders lack definitive or fully effective treatments. In recent years, stem cell-based therapies have received considerable attention as potential approaches for neural repair and functional recovery. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted particular interest because of their distinctive biological properties, including their capacity for differentiation, secretion of neurotrophic factors, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and migration toward injured tissues. Compared with other stem cell types, including neural stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, MSCs offer several potential advantages, such as relatively easy accessibility, availability from multiple sources including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood, and fewer ethical concerns. This narrative review examines published studies on the application of MSCs in neurological disorders, with particular emphasis on their biological characteristics, potential mechanisms of action, cellular sources, and advantages compared with other stem cell types. The available evidence regarding the use of MSCs in neurodegenerative diseases and other CNS disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury, is also reviewed and discussed. Overall, available evidence suggests that MSCs may support neural function and repair through neurotrophic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative mechanisms. However, despite encouraging findings from preclinical studies and some clinical investigations, current clinical evidence remains limited and heterogeneous. Differences in cell source, cell preparation and administration, dosage, treatment timing, and long-term outcomes may influence therapeutic effects. Therefore, well-designed and adequately powered clinical studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of MSC-based therapies and to determine their potential advantages over other cell-based approaches.