Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained attention as a potential tool for cell therapy and are currently being tested in FDA-approved clinical trials for a range of disorders, including myocardial infarction, stroke, meniscus injury, limb ischemia, graft-versus-host disease, and autoimmune disorders. Preclinical studies have shown MSCs to be effective in treating these and many other conditions. There is growing interest in using MSCs to treat neurodegenerative diseases, especially those that are fatal and difficult to treat, such as Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The regenerative approach for neurological diseases using MSCs involves cell therapies in which cells are delivered through intracerebral or intrathecal injection. Upon transplantation into the brain, MSCs can enhance endogenous neuronal growth, reduce apoptosis, limit free radical levels, enhance synaptic connections between damaged neurons, and regulate inflammation through paracrine actions.

MSCs have been shown to promote functional recovery by producing trophic factors that support the survival and regeneration of host neurons. These therapies can either leverage the natural trophic support of MSCs or augment it through the delivery of growth factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor or glial-derived neurotrophic factor, using genetically engineered MSCs as delivery vehicles. Clinical trials for MSC injection into the central nervous system to treat traumatic brain injury and stroke are ongoing. This article discusses the current data supporting the use of MSC-based cellular therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.