Is stem cell therapy for ALS (Motor Neurone Disease) worth it?
Current evidence does not support buying stem-cell therapy as routine ALS care. The most defensible access is through a well-designed registered clinical trial with independent oversight, transparent costs and no promise of slowed decline or longer survival. Participation must not delay multidisciplinary ALS care, respiratory and nutritional support, assistive planning or discussion of approved and guideline-supported treatments.
How stem cells are studied for ALS (Motor Neurone Disease)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or motor neurone disease) is a neurodegenerative condition characterised by progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem and motor cortex. Multiple mechanisms are under investigation, including excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding and neuroinflammation. Neural progenitor and mesenchymal stromal cell approaches are being studied for proposed neuroprotective or supportive effects, but these mechanisms have not established slowed progression or restored motor function in people. The registry table on this page lists relevant studies and their current recruitment status.
Am I a candidate? → · ALS (Motor Neurone Disease): full overview → · ALS (Motor Neurone Disease) cost → · Cost →
Evidence checked against ISSCR, FDA and EMA guidance. See our editorial standards. This is information, not medical advice. Educational information, not medical advice; figures indicative.
Sources & further reading
More on this condition
- ALS (Motor Neurone Disease): cell-therapy evidence and registered trials
- How much does stem cell therapy for ALS (Motor Neurone Disease) cost? (2026)
- ALS (Motor Neurone Disease) stem cell therapy — your questions answered (2026)
- ALS (Motor Neurone Disease): cell-therapy evidence by therapy class
- MSC vs HSCT for ALS (Motor Neurone Disease): what the registries show