Stem cell-based interventions for epilepsy: Current progress and future promise

Epilepsy affects millions globally, with a significant proportion of patients remaining refractory to conventional pharmacological and surgical treatments. Stem cell therapy represents a promising regenerative treatment. It can repair damaged neural networks, restore inhibitory balance, and modulate the inflammatory microenvironment characteristic of epileptic brains. Preclinical studies using diverse models, such as pilocarpine, kainic acid, and kindling have demonstrated seizure reduction, cognitive improvements, and histological repair following stem cell transplantation. Various cell types associated with stem cells, such as embryonic growth stem cells, neural growth stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells, have been explored, each offering unique therapeutic advantages and challenges. Early clinical trials have demonstrated preliminary safety and feasibility, with encouraging trends toward seizure control and improvement in quality of life. Innovative strategies, including gene editing, preconditioning, scaffold integration, and exosome-based therapies, are being actively developed to overcome existing translational hurdles. Personalized regenerative approaches, regulatory harmonization, and sustainable economic models are crucial for advancing stem cell therapies from experimental settings to mainstream clinical applications. With continued multidisciplinary collaboration and scientific innovation, stem cell treatment holds the caliber for redefining the assessment of the landscape of refractory epilepsy.