Q: My child suffers from global developmental delay. He lacks motor skills and motor co-ordination. He can speak and has started writing as we have been giving him intense occupational and speech therapy. Will stem cell therapy be of any use in this case? We are not looking at complete cure but will it help to increase his muscle co-ordination? He has been identified as a borderline case of retardation.

A:A. Stem cell treatment is experimental at this stage. No controlled studies have been carried out in children with global developmental delay or MR. Neither have there been reports of long term follow-up of patients who have been given stem cells. There are reports and parents' comments of improvement in a variety of disorders, but these children have not been followed for years. The treatment is very expensive, lengthy, and long term side effects are not known. Till we see results that are scientifically analysed and evaluated, we cannot recommend this treatment.