We understand you have questions about stem cell therapy for autism. Here are answers to the most common questions from families like yours.
Stem cell therapy for autism uses Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to address the underlying biological causes of autism spectrum disorder. Unlike behavioral therapies that only treat symptoms, stem cell therapy aims to:
Yes, when administered by qualified medical professionals using IRB-approved protocols. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have an excellent safety profile with over 20 years of clinical use worldwide. Our approach includes:
Results vary by individual, but families often report improvements in multiple areas within 3-6 months of treatment. Commonly observed benefits include:
Our AI platform tracks these improvements with objective biomarkers and standardized assessments to measure real progress.
Treatment costs vary based on your child's specific needs and treatment plan. Currently, most insurance plans do not cover stem cell therapy for autism as it's considered investigational. However:
Schedule a consultation to discuss your family's specific situation and financing options.
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. Stem cell therapy is designed to work alongside your child's existing interventions, including:
By addressing the biological foundations, stem cell therapy may actually enhance the effectiveness of these behavioral and educational interventions.
Yes — but it depends on the therapy and how it's offered. In the United States, all stem cell therapies are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as biologics. Only a limited number of stem cell treatments are fully FDA-approved for specific medical conditions. For example, stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood are FDA-approved to treat certain blood and immune system disorders, such as some cancers and inherited blood diseases.
For most other uses — including regenerative applications or neurodevelopmental conditions like autism — there is no FDA-approved stem cell therapy yet. The science is promising, and research is actively underway, but these treatments are still experimental and investigational.
Stem cell therapy for autism is not currently FDA-approved as a standard medical treatment, which means there is no marketed, approved stem cell product specifically for autism in the United States.
However, the Right-to-Try Act is a federal law that creates an additional pathway for patients with conditions with no remaining FDA-approved treatment options — to access certain investigational drugs or biologics that are being tested in clinical development and have completed at least Phase I safety testing, without being part of a clinical trial and without waiting for full FDA approval.
In practice:
BetterStem uses the Right-to-Try pathway to extend access to investigational stem cell therapies being studied for autism to eligible families who are not enrolled in existing clinical trials. This pathway provides a legal alternative avenue for families seeking investigational options when no approved therapy exists.
Umbilical cord stem cells help reduce inflammation in the brain, which is common in children with autism. They also promote healing and support the creation of new neural connections. This can lead to improvements in language, behavior, focus, and emotional regulation.
Yes, the treatment is generally very safe. There are no known long-term side effects from using umbilical cord stem cells.
No, there are no known long-term risks associated with umbilical cord stem cell therapy. These cells have been used safely for over 60 years in treating more than 80 diseases that are approved by the FDA. The product is carefully screened, and the safety profile is excellent.
We use FDA-regulated, minimally manipulated umbilical cord stem cell products. That means we do not expand, multiply, or alter the cells in any way — ensuring they remain as biologically safe and potent as when they were originally harvested from healthy live birth, ethically donated, full-term births. Every batch is rigorously tested for all sources of diseases, sterility, viability, and potency. Every vial comes with a Certificate of Analysis.
People of every age can benefit from stem cell therapies.
Many studies show that children with autism have significant brain inflammation. This has been confirmed through spinal fluid testing, PET scans, and even autopsies. While inflammation isn't the only factor, it's a major one—and it's something we can treat medically.
The stem cells are administered intravenously (IV). Once the IV line is secured, we will run some saline, bring the stem cells to room temperature and then inject them directly into the IV line or IV bag. You can expect the entire appointment to be about an hour.
Dosage is based on your child's weight. Our IRB-approved protocol uses a minimum of 2.5 million MSC stem cells per kilogram of body weight.
We never know in advance exactly how many treatments will be needed. We don't recommend more than one treatment until we've seen the results from the first, and ongoing outcome monitoring after that treatment helps our medical team determine the most appropriate recommendation for any future treatments.
The entire visit usually takes about one hour. That includes meeting with the doctor, reviewing the plan, and completing the treatment.
About 65–70% of children experience meaningful improvement after stem cell treatment. Some see dramatic gains in speech, focus, or social interaction. Others improve more gradually. Every child is different, but the potential is significant.
Improvements may include better speech, increased eye contact, improved focus, reduced aggression, and less anxiety. Some kids start talking more, others sleep better, or engage more socially. Results vary, but many families see life-changing benefits.
Results are variable. We have seen results in as little as a few days, but it does take some time for the cells to set up residence in the body and start producing exosomes. We believe a reasonable time frame is 2-4 weeks but could take up to 2-3 months. Please note that results are not guaranteed, while 65-75% of people do see improvements, not everybody benefits.
Studies show that improvements in autistic symptoms typically begin around one month after treatment and continue to increase over the following six months. Around the six-month mark, progress tends to reach a plateau — meaning the gains stabilize — but importantly, there is no regression. This suggests that the benefits of treatment are sustained over time, offering long-term improvements in areas like speech, behavior, focus, and emotional regulation.
Yes. Many parents report a noticeable reduction in anxiety after treatment. Children may become calmer, less rigid, and better able to handle transitions or frustration. This is likely due to the stem cells reducing brain inflammation and improving communication between brain regions.
No, it can help teens and even young adults. While younger brains tend to be more adaptable, we've seen significant progress in older children too—especially in areas like anxiety, social interaction, and executive function. Every case is evaluated individually.
Yes. Many children on the spectrum experience increased aggression during puberty due to hormonal changes and brain inflammation. Stem cell therapy can help reduce inflammation and improve emotional regulation, often leading to calmer behavior.
Stem cell treatment may offer some benefit for children with genetic syndromes, particularly when inflammation or detoxification issues are involved. While research is still early, some families have reported improvements. Each case should be reviewed carefully with our doctors.
No, blood typing isn't necessary. All red blood cells are removed from the stem cell product. The remaining solution contains only the active stem cells and plasma, making it safe for all children regardless of blood type.
No, we cannot use personally stored stem cells.
Yes. Most families fly home the next day. If you need to travel the same day, we recommend scheduling the treatment in the morning so there's a few hours of observation before your flight or drive. There are no travel restrictions after the procedure.
Schedule your free consultation and discover if stem cell therapy is right for your child.
Schedule Free ConsultationThe total cost depends on your child's weight and the number of vials needed. For smaller children, the cost ranges around $10,000, and for older or heavier children requiring more cells, total treatment can range into the mid- to high-$15,000s.
Currently, insurance does not cover umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy for autism, as it is still classified as an investigational treatment in the U.S.
However, we do offer flexible financing options through our financing partners. Depending on your family's eligibility, you may be able to pay for treatment over a period of up to 36 months, making it more accessible and manageable.
The FRAT test (Folate Receptor Antibody Test) is a blood test that checks for antibodies that block your child's ability to absorb folate, a critical nutrient for brain development and cellular function. About 60% of autistic patients have autoantibodies to the folate receptor. If the test is positive, we prescribe folinic acid (Leucovorin), a medical-grade supplement that bypasses the blocked pathway and helps restore normal brain chemistry.
The gut health urine test checks for gut dysbiosis—an imbalance of bacteria in the digestive system. About 80% of kids with autism have it, and it's linked to behaviors like anxiety, aggression, and hyperactivity. Treating gut dysbiosis can improve outcomes and make stem cell treatment more effective.
For more information visit our Tests page under the Resources Tab.
Not always—but they help personalize the treatment plan. If blood draws are difficult, we can draw blood for the test right before administering the stem cell treatment.
BetterStem provides access to stem-cell–based treatments for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through a legally compliant Right-to-Try pathway under the supervision of an Independent Review Board (IRB) and in coordination with FDA-aligned oversight.
Our focus is simple:
We work only with FDA-registered manufacturing labs, products covered under an existing Investigational New Drug (IND), medical teams trained on the specific cell protocol, and structured clinical oversight.
An IRB (Institutional Review Board) is an independent ethics and safety body that reviews treatment protocols, evaluates risk vs benefit, ensures patient protections, confirms informed consent standards, and monitors protocol compliance.
IRB oversight matters because it protects the patient, documents process & safety standards, prevents uncontrolled or unsafe treatment practices, and increases transparency and integrity. Simply put — IRB oversight means there is real accountability behind the treatment pathway.
An IND (Investigational New Drug application) is an FDA-regulated approval pathway that allows a product to be studied, monitored, and manufactured & controlled under specific quality standards. When a lab holds an IND for autism, the manufacturing process is regulated, dosing & preparation protocols exist, product quality and safety must meet federal standards, and data from prior & ongoing use is tracked.
BetterStem works only with labs whose MSC products are manufactured under cGMP / FDA-registered conditions, are tied to an IND for ASD, and include documentation, affidavits, and traceability. This ensures families are receiving regulated, quality-controlled biologics, not unverified products.
MSCs are biologic cells known for their ability to reduce systemic and neuroinflammatory activity, modulate immune imbalance, support cellular repair environments, and release signaling molecules (exosomes & cytokines) that influence regulation pathways.
Many children with ASD show underlying biological factors such as:
Parents and clinicians commonly report potential improvements including behavior regulation, communication and engagement, sensory tolerance, sleep, and emotional regulation.
Because integrity matters more than marketing. Autism is complex — and children respond differently. While many families report meaningful improvements, no treatment should be positioned as a guarantee, cure, or miracle solution.
We commit to transparency about potential benefits, clarity about limitations, honest conversations about risk, and structured follow-up whenever possible. We don't sell false hope — we help families pursue informed hope.
Every child undergoes clinical intake review, medical history assessment, candidacy evaluation, and physician consultation. We prioritize safety contraindications, age, health, and immune status, metabolic and neurologic profile indicators, and likelihood of responsible benefit vs risk.
We would rather say no than treat a child who is not an appropriate candidate. Because ethics come first — always.
Yes — as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks. Most reported side effects are mild and temporary, including headache or fatigue, low-grade fever, temporary irritability or behavioral shifts, mild flu-like symptoms, and local irritation at IV site. These effects typically resolve within 24–72 hours.
Less common — but possible — risks include allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, IV-related complications, and transient immune response changes. Severe adverse events are rare but can occur.
We do NOT minimize risk — we manage it responsibly. Every child is medically screened, dosing & infusion protocols are standardized, treatment is provided by licensed physicians, and emergency response protocols are in place. Safety is always prioritized before eligibility.
No. MSC treatment is not presented as a substitute for ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional / behavioral support, or school interventions.
Many families explore MSC therapy as an adjunct option or part of a broader, multi-modal care plan. We encourage collaboration — not replacement of essential supports.