Sam’s Patient Reported Outcome

Sam was a productive dentist, recreational golfer, proud parent, and happy husband. However, in 2013 his wife Flo, a retired physician, began a bold twenty-year battle to reverse his dementia, vascular disease, and pre-diabetes. In April 2020, Sam suffered a stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital. He remained there for two months.

In March 2022, Sam and his wife, Flo, exercised Sam’s Right-to-Try AMBROSE Cell Therapy. Seven months later, he stated, “I am a new man. I have much more energy. My thinking is clearer. I was worried about myself at one time, but not anymore.”

We will return to Sam’s story in a moment; first, some background on the power of blood flow and the risks of ischemia (lack of blood flow).

Sam’s Lifeblood –
Ancient Eastern societies (Phoenicians, Persians, Egyptians, and Hebrews) attached beliefs about blood to the origins of religion. Some Greek savants considered blood the same as the soul or spirit.

Further, the Greeks developed the first scientific considerations about blood. Back in Homer’s time (8^th or 9^th Century BC), they summarized four concepts that remain valid to day:

a) Blood is essential for life
b) Death is considered final when a lack of blood causes it
c) Clashes in which murder and blood make their appearance are horrible
d) Tribes, nations, and families regard blood as a bond

Finally, the Greeks believed good and virtuous blood characterized a courageous, valiant, and principled person.^[1]

Following the Ancients’ theme, Merriam-Webster defines lifeblood as “the seat of vitality.” 

Ischemia – Sam’s life suck
In 1885, Rudolph Virchow coined “ischemia” to characterize the lack of blood flow in an organ or tissue. In plain words, ischemia means blood is not moving through your capillaries, blood vessels, veins, or arteries.

The Po River nourishes Northern Italy’s expansive farms. But 2022’s global heat wave starved Italy’s breadbasket of vital nutrients and harmed the economy,

Similarly, Sam’s blood flow feeds his cells, tissues, and organs, but inflammation-induced ischemia sucked the vitality from Sam’s life.

Sam’s long decline

• Ten years of smoking
• Decades-long mercury exposure from practicing dentistry; he retired in 2008
• He ate the standard American diet (SAD) plus over-indulged in mercury-laden sushi.
• In 2002, he had surgeries for a torn rotator cuff and a fractured left wrist.
• In 2013, a noticeable cognitive decline set in. His Montreal Cognitive Assessment or the MoCA Test— had diminished to 16 out of 30, or about half of normal. MoCA is the most sensitive test available for measuring dementia.^[2]
• In 2016, Sam’s doctors diagnosed him with vascular dementia and pre-diabetes.
• Somewhere along the line, he developed chronic lower back pain.
• In 2020, he suffered an ischemic stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital, where he remained for an additional two months.

In short, Sam’s diffuse (widespread) vascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disease foretold of dementia and the stroke yet to come.^{[3] [4]}

Sam’s history epitomizes the complexity of age-related ill health:

• Many of the factors associated with heart disease – for instance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are evident in patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
• A common cause of dementia is cerebrovascular disease or damage to the blood vessels in the brain.
• Elevated mercury levels are a less well-discussed culprit of heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions.
• The risk of vascular dementia increases with a stroke.

Flo’s Relentless Quest
In 2016, Flo found Dr. Dale Bredesen and the RECODE protocol. For several years Sam responded to RECODE. His MoCA score improved from 16 to 19.

Unfortunately, Sam’s vascular disease caught up with him in early 2020. He had a stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital, requiring a two-month stay. Research has since revealed that the Corona-19 virus attacks the endothelium (inner lining of the blood vessels), adding more risk to Sam’s future. ^[5]

In 2021, Flo, a retired physician, became concerned that her husband had plateaued. After researching stem cell therapy options, she recommended Ambrose Cell Therapy to Sam in 2022.

Sam’s Disease Progression
Sam’s first sign of ischemia was elevated blood pressure or hypertension (HTN). “His BP became a problem at least ten years ago.”, recalled Flo.

Cardiologists refer to HTN as the silent killer because it leads to heart attacks and strokes.

From 2009 to 2019, the deaths attributable to high BP rose by two-thirds, an astonishing number considering that one in four adults take antihypertensive medications.^{[6] [7]}

• Every cigarette Sam or anyone smokes causes a temporary rise in blood pressure. And smoking leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Thus, a smoker’s blood is more likely to clot, forcing the heart to work harder.
• Mercury toxicity correlates with hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular incidents, and atherosclerosis.
• Insulin resistance, i.e., pre-diabetes, is associated with low cerebral blood flow (perfusion).
• Pre-diabetes, a hallmark of metabolic syndrome, links to vascular dementia. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

Flo’s Distrust
Flo, a retired physician, lacked confidence in the standard-of-care drugs, e.g., Donepezil (Aricept) and Memantine (Namenda). “I didn’t let the doctors put Sam on those medications. I saw they had short-term benefits but could make things worse with long-term use.”

A British study published in 2004 suggested that Aricept has “disappointingly little overall benefit and is not worth the cost.”

Flo also knew to steer clear of drug combinations, including anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-seizure, and sleep meds (polypharmacy). Neurologists prescribe polypharmacy to patients with neurodegenerative diseases despite its well-documented contribution to the progression and severity of dementia. In other words, drug companies profit, and patients pay the price. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

In May 2022, Sam presented to Ambrose with:

• Vascular dementia
• Post-stroke left-side imbalance and difficulty swallowing
• Elevated blood pressure, controlled with medication (Losartan)
• High cholesterol
• Pre-diabetes HbA1C 6.3, fasting glucose 106.
• High inflammatory markers, including homocysteine – 8.4
• Chronic lower back pain
• Shoulder arthritis
• Reclusive and depressed

Harnessing Sam’s Innate Biology
Flo believed in the body’s power to heal itself. That is why she was attracted to the RECODE protocol.

After Sam’s improvement stalled, she took the logical next step of researching stem cell therapy. But Google search results ranked common misinformation high. “Aren’t umbilical cord stem cells (UBSCs) more potent and effective than fat stem cells?” she asked.

Our critical review of Tony Robbin’s Life Force sets the record straight: Researchers have established that ADRCs are the most accessible, abundant, and potent cell population. Contrary to the extant dogma, stem cell depletion does not apply to ADRCs.^[17]

Dozens of peer-reviewed studies supported the potential to treat Sam’s combined disabilities in a single outpatient procedure.

Making an informed choice
Flo requested papers supporting potential benefits for Sam’s memory.

• In 2017 the University of Louisville’s Cardiovascular Innovation Institute demonstrated that intravenous delivery of ADRCs could improve blood vessel health. They predicted “the intravenous delivery of this therapeutic cell population would significantly improve tissue perfusion (the passage of blood), particularly in diseases with diffuse (widely spread) vascular involvement.”^[18]
• A just-published Japanese poster presentation reported remarkable improvements in MOCA scores after IV infusion of adipose-derived–mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs or Ad-MSC).^[19]
• Another study out of Japan demonstrated, “Treatment with Ad-MSC significantly improved HDL, LDL, and remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol levels…These findings suggest that Ad-MSC administration is safe and effective in patients developing arteriosclerosis, thereby providing an attractive tool for anti-aging application.^[20]
• Japanese researchers from Nagoya University concluded in a 2022 review article, Adipose-derived regenerative cells as a promising therapy for cardiovascular diseases: an overview, “Therapeutic angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) has been developed as a new treatment strategy for such patients.” ^[21]

 Ischemia – the Tip of the Iceberg
A robust body of literature confirms that ischemia is just the tip of the dementia iceberg. As we have discussed in articles on cell-assisted brain care, aging, and long-Covid recovery, chronic disease involves multisystem dysregulation.

A Golden Era of Self-Cell Repair details the research and discovery path upon which we base Ambrose Cell Therapy’s safety and potential effectiveness.  ^[22]

Sam’s Personalized Protocol
Per the Ambrose Master Protocol:

1. Ambrose’s board-certified plastic surgeon harvested 370 ccs of adipose tissue. The Celution™ System processed 310 ccs yielding 68 million ADRCs with 92% viability.

2. Ambrose’s fellowship-trained interventional pain specialist utilized the remaining 60 ccs to deliver 44 injections of PRP-enriched micro-fat:

• Para-spinal and para-facet injections -24
• Right shoulder -13
• Left wrist – 7

Summary of Benefits
Per Flo, over ten months, Sam went from reclusive, demented, and in chronic back pain to socializing with friends, playing an occasional round of golf, and enjoying his grandchildren.

He helps Flo with chores and preparing dinner and takes the initiative to attend church, meditate, and exercise. He engages in conversation without repeating himself. Flo wants to see his short-term memory improve but acknowledges Sam’s significant quality of life improvement.

Consistent with the studies Ambrose provided to Flo, objective evidence indicates cell therapy lowered Sam’s risk of another catastrophic stroke or a heart attack.

• His blood pressure normalized -120/80 or better most days – allowing him to discontinue losartan in the first few weeks following Sam’s Ambrose.
• His metabolic health and systemic inflammation showed remarkable improvement.
  • HbA1C – 6.4 to 5.3
  • Fasting glucose – 106 to 99
  • Homocysteine – 8.4 to 6.0

Sam’s cholesterol remained high until Flo put him on Zetia and a low dose of Crestor. The keto diet raises cholesterol in some and lowers it in others.

Setbacks
To be clear, Sam has had a few setbacks, including a bout of severe constipation. Diet changes resolved that issue.

He also had a flare of debilitating back pain. Notably, his current MRI shows multi-level spinal degeneration and facet arthritis. However, his months of better function, including long walks and restarting golf, lend credence to the Ambrose Cell-Assisted Spine Care Hypothesis.

With rest and conservative physical therapy, Sam said, “My back is better.” He resumed his daily walks a few weeks later.

Sam’s Perspective
“Stem cells are the future. I am a new man. I have much more energy. I am thinking much more clearly. I was worried about myself at one time, but not anymore.”

“It’s going well. I am doing very much better. I am playing golf. We are visiting our son and grandchildren in Hamptons this weekend,” declared Sam.

He had quit golf four years ago and had not visited his family in several years.

Details – Sam’s improving quality of life timeline (edited for brevity and clarity):

• April: Not repeating questions as often, short-term memory starting to improve. Sam’s masseuse noted he didn’t repeat the same question. And Sam asked about her daughter for the first time. He initiated going to exercise, church, and meditating.
• His blood pressure normalized. He discontinued losartan.
• May – Sam surprised Flo with Mother’s Day Flowers and teased her that her boyfriend from high school must have sent them.
• June – He played golf after quitting four years ago. Flo: “Good news Matt, we played golf – 9 holes, he had fun even though he didn’t play well, but he was able to give me some instructions and vice versa. Beautiful day today. He was fine and willing to go when I brought it up. I was so happy.”
• Left side imbalance from stroke is no longer evident. “He keeps his balance when walking. Swallowing is better.”, said Flo.
• Their son, Fred, a prominent healthcare mutual fund manager, acknowledged, “Dad is getting better.”, which is also a first.
• Sam and Flo had dinner with friends in New York City: “We had a good time. Sam had a good conversation with the others. However, he was not in a good mood. It looks like he got out of the wrong side of the bed. Sam did have these kinds of moments a lot, but recently it is unusual.”
• July – “I have good news this morning. My brother called Sam for his birthday. He did really good. Usually, he talks a little and hands me the phone, but this time they had a long conversation with laughs and jokes. I haven’t seen this for a long, long time. I think it is really positive progress.”
• August – Sam spoke for himself rather than deferring to Flo on a one-hour follow-up call. “I am a new man. I have much more energy, much more clear thinking. At one time, I was worried about myself, but not anymore,” he stated.
• Sam and Flo drove to the Hamptons to see their son and children. Their daughter’s family joined them. “Today, Sun played golf with our son, Fred, and our son-in-law, Jim. He had a good round. This trip was the first time Sam packed his things by himself. He didn’t have much anxiety like before…definitely improved. Jim said, ‘Dad is doing better for sure. Whatever I’m doing is helping him. When he played golf, his back was fine.”, Flo shared after the gathering.
• “We spent all afternoon (at the US Open) watching Medvedev and Coco play in Ashe Stadium. It was fun to be there and feel the action. Overall, we had fun watching the tennis and excitement.”
• September – Back to East Hampton for their grandson’s birthday. “Our son was surprised we stayed that long. Sam had fun and mingled with the guests. He didn’t have any issues.”
• October – Flo reports, “I have some good news. We went to speech therapy. Sometimes I don’t hear him well. The therapist asked him lots of questions. She did not want me to answer for Sam. I was delighted to see his improvement.”
• December 9 – Last night, Sam had a good conversation with his longtime friend in LA. They chatted with each other, including me. Sam was engaged in the conversation. It made me happy. At first, he didn’t remember it the next day, but after a little hint, he got it and remembered.”
• From Flo: “Sam’s phone has Face ID. I tried to help him log into Fidelity; of course, it didn’t recognize his face. He said, ‘how could you not recognize my wife’s face? Everything in there is hers!’”

As 2022 came to an end, Flo said, “Matt, I’d like to thank you for your support all year long. It’s been a great year for us.”

RJ’s Patient-Reported Outcome

Sports-related injuries, including concussions and whiplash, three failed shoulder surgeries, an unsuccessful right knee surgery, etc., retired RJ’s dream of playing Major League Baseball.

In May 2022, he exercised his Right to Try AMBROSE Cell Therapy. Seven months later, he says, “Y’all (AMBROSE) changed my life.”

In 2016, Barbara suffered from debilitating spinal stenosis. After failing to respond to chiropracty, physical therapy, medication, and steroids, Barb accessed a new option: The stem cells and other regenerative cells residing in her fat or adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs). Five years since her treatment, Barb says that cell therapy “saved my future.”

In 2018, Trish, Jeff, and Kathy lived with complex, debilitating health conditions, including spine-related pain. After they had failed to get relief from conventional and integrative medicine, each chose to exercise their Right to Try AMBROSE Cell Therapy under the Federal Right to Try Act of 2017. Remarkably, over two years post-cell therapy, they all report their spine-related symptoms and dysfunction don’t hold them back anymore. But what is the scientific back story that led to their sustained outcomes? And what was the catalyst for a Golden Era of Spine Care?

 Is Conventional Spine Care Antiquated?
Spine care has its origins in antiquity. The Edwin Smith surgical papyrus, an Egyptian document written in the 17th century BC, is the first known discussion of neck and back-related injuries. Hippocrates (4th century BC) experimented with traction or local pressure to correct spinal deformities. Aristotle also contributed to our current day understanding of the neck and spine.

Few individuals in history have made as many contributions to so many disciplines as Leonardo da Vinci. Included in his vast body of work, Da Vinci sketched the first accurate depiction of the spine. ^[1]

As a result, knowledge of the neck and back, and their related disorders, have evolved since the Renaissance Man’s illustrations.

Early researchers proposed that neck and back pain resulted from the stress of heavy loads and age-related wear and tear on the discs. Then, in 1978, White and Panjabi published Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine. Here, they connected all the mechanical factors involved in neck and back health.  Technically speaking, they found that in addition to vertebrae, our muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves (soft tissues) play significant roles in spine health and disease. White and Panjabi named those pieces of the puzzle the Functional Spine Unit (FSU).

But there was still more to be discovered than the FSU. More recently, researchers began focusing on the vicious interplay involved with traumatic injuries, wear and tear, inflammation, and other diseases (co-morbidities). For example, patients with heart disease, diabetes, neurologic conditions, and autoimmune diseases have a higher prevalence of spine disorders than others without those conditions. In fact, Barb, Trish, Kathy, and Jeff each lived with other chronic debilitating conditions, including arthritis, hypermobility, kidney failure, and spinal cord injury, respectively. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

In 2001, Patricia Zuk, Ph.D. et al., working in a UCLA lab, accomplished a (non-obvious) leap forward for patients living with neck and back pain. Zuk’s group discovered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were residing in adipose tissue. But how did their seemingly unrelated research catalyze a Golden Era of Spine care? We will answer that in a moment first; why was a new regenerative option needed in the first place?

 Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
Despite those thousands of years of research and development, more people than ever are suffering from spine-related pain. Besides contributing to the opioid epidemic, the number of spine surgeries increases year in and year out.

Unfortunately, downsides to spine surgery, including high rates of complications, readmissions to the hospital, and poor outcomes, are common. ^{[6] [7]} As a result, approximately 4 million individuals live with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) in the U.S. Tragically, a spinal fusion gone wrong caused Jeff’s spinal cord injury.

Doctors call those with FBBS and others unwilling to risk a surgical intervention “no-option patients. Jeff’s spinal cord injury resulted from a spine surgery, which upon a second opinion, turned out to be unnecessary in the first place. Barb, Kathy, and Trish opted not to pursue surgery out of concern for those risks.”

 Is there more to spine health than meets the eye?
Circling back, in the early 1500s, Leonardo da Vinci took an unusual interest in tree anatomy. His Rule of Trees explained the balance between the trunk and branches of a tree. He counted the rings in tree trunks to determine “the nature of past seasons.”

Perhaps it wasn’t coincidental that he sketched the spine, tree trunk, and branches, respectively? Let’s look at it this way: The tree’s trunk supports the crown and branches. Likewise, a healthy neck and back do the work of a strong tree.  But even the strongest and thickest tree branch cannot handle a heavy load if the tree’s trunk is weak. Similarly, our legs, arms, hands, and feet can be affected by a degenerated FSU.

Ideally, our spines are a harmony of functional bones and soft tissues. The back and neck rely on all those elements to hold us upright and be mobile. But when the soft tissues atrophy or become arthritic, they pressure nerves, thus contributing to spine-related symptoms.

• Trish lived with sciatica, numbness, stiffness, and pain.
• Kathy’s bad neck kept her awake at night.
• Barbara’s situation prevented her from working, gardening, driving, and pottery.

Most vexing, back-related discomfort doesn’t discriminate: Gardners, crossfitters, weightlifters, golfers, and aging couch potatoes can end up unable to function without pain for varied reasons. ^[8]

ADRCs – the Spine’s Arborist
An arborist cultivates trees; tree removal is a last resort. The first thing that goes through their minds is how to save the tree. To do their jobs, arborists cultivate the whole tree. They use fertilizer, irrigation, and other regenerative tools to restore the tree’s trunk, limbs, and leaves.

Around 2010, Zuk’s discovery of stem cells in fat came into play when some innovative doctors began treating spine patients with ADRC-based protocols. Their strategy was not dissimilar to an arborist’s. They recognized that a veritable pharmacopeia in a person’s fatty tissue could reduce arthritis and regenerate the supportive soft tissues in the neck and lower back. Back surgeries change the anatomy while cell therapy is, well, therapeutic.

Just as an arborist uses an array of skills to rehabilitate diseased trees, ADRCs use multiple mechanisms of action to rehab the FSU. At least as necessary, ADRCs restore balance or homeostasis in the systems that feed, care for, and defend the spine. In other words, better vascular, immune, metabolic, and nervous system wellness contributes to overall improvements.

In summary, not only did AMBROSE cell therapy help Barb, Jeff, Kathy, and Trish avoid risky surgeries, but all reported being more active, increased energy, and an improved sense of wellbeing.

[1] Bowen G et al Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) and his depictions of the human spine
Childs Nerv Syst (2017) 33:2067–2070

[2] M. Shamji et al. Proinflammatory Cytokine Expression Profile in Degenerated and Herniated Human Intervertebral Disc Tissues Arthritis Rheum. 2010 July; 62(7): 1974–1982

[3] J Gallo Inflammation and its resolution and the musculoskeletal system J Orthop Translat. 2017 July; 10: 52–67

[4] Asadian et al. Diabetes Mellitus, a new risk Factor for lumbar spinal stenosis: a Case–Control study. Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes 2016:9 1–5

[5] Lotan R, Oron A, Anekstein Y, Shalmon E, Mirovsky Y. Lumbar stenosis and systemic diseases: is there any relevance? J. Spinal Disord. Tech. 2008;21(4):247-51.

[6] Camino Willhuber et al. Analysis of Postoperative Complications in Spinal Surgery, Hospital Length of Stay, and Unplanned Readmission: Application of Dindo-Clavien Classification to Spine Surgery Global Spine Journal July 2018

[7] Chase D. The opioid crisis is partly fueled by insurers and employers’ approach to back pain. StatNews. statnews.com/2019/03/27/opioid-crisis-insurersemployers- back-pain/. Published March 27, 2019.

[8] J Abbas et al Paraspinal muscles density: a marker for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis? BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2016) 17:422

Sam’s Patient Reported Outcome

Sam was a productive dentist, recreational golfer, proud parent, and happy husband. However, in 2013 his wife Flo, a retired physician, began a bold twenty-year battle to reverse his dementia, vascular disease, and pre-diabetes. In April 2020, Sam suffered a stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital. He remained there for two months.

In March 2022, Sam and his wife, Flo, exercised Sam’s Right-to-Try AMBROSE Cell Therapy. Seven months later, he stated, “I am a new man. I have much more energy. My thinking is clearer. I was worried about myself at one time, but not anymore.”

We will return to Sam’s story in a moment; first, some background on the power of blood flow and the risks of ischemia (lack of blood flow).

Sam’s Lifeblood –
Ancient Eastern societies (Phoenicians, Persians, Egyptians, and Hebrews) attached beliefs about blood to the origins of religion. Some Greek savants considered blood the same as the soul or spirit.

Further, the Greeks developed the first scientific considerations about blood. Back in Homer’s time (8^th or 9^th Century BC), they summarized four concepts that remain valid to day:

a) Blood is essential for life
b) Death is considered final when a lack of blood causes it
c) Clashes in which murder and blood make their appearance are horrible
d) Tribes, nations, and families regard blood as a bond

Finally, the Greeks believed good and virtuous blood characterized a courageous, valiant, and principled person.^[1]

Following the Ancients’ theme, Merriam-Webster defines lifeblood as “the seat of vitality.” 

Ischemia – Sam’s life suck
In 1885, Rudolph Virchow coined “ischemia” to characterize the lack of blood flow in an organ or tissue. In plain words, ischemia means blood is not moving through your capillaries, blood vessels, veins, or arteries.

The Po River nourishes Northern Italy’s expansive farms. But 2022’s global heat wave starved Italy’s breadbasket of vital nutrients and harmed the economy,

Similarly, Sam’s blood flow feeds his cells, tissues, and organs, but inflammation-induced ischemia sucked the vitality from Sam’s life.

Sam’s long decline

• Ten years of smoking
• Decades-long mercury exposure from practicing dentistry; he retired in 2008
• He ate the standard American diet (SAD) plus over-indulged in mercury-laden sushi.
• In 2002, he had surgeries for a torn rotator cuff and a fractured left wrist.
• In 2013, a noticeable cognitive decline set in. His Montreal Cognitive Assessment or the MoCA Test— had diminished to 16 out of 30, or about half of normal. MoCA is the most sensitive test available for measuring dementia.^[2]
• In 2016, Sam’s doctors diagnosed him with vascular dementia and pre-diabetes.
• Somewhere along the line, he developed chronic lower back pain.
• In 2020, he suffered an ischemic stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital, where he remained for an additional two months.

In short, Sam’s diffuse (widespread) vascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disease foretold of dementia and the stroke yet to come.^{[3] [4]}

Sam’s history epitomizes the complexity of age-related ill health:

• Many of the factors associated with heart disease – for instance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are evident in patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
• A common cause of dementia is cerebrovascular disease or damage to the blood vessels in the brain.
• Elevated mercury levels are a less well-discussed culprit of heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions.
• The risk of vascular dementia increases with a stroke.

Flo’s Relentless Quest
In 2016, Flo found Dr. Dale Bredesen and the RECODE protocol. For several years Sam responded to RECODE. His MoCA score improved from 16 to 19.

Unfortunately, Sam’s vascular disease caught up with him in early 2020. He had a stroke and contracted Covid and pneumonia in the hospital, requiring a two-month stay. Research has since revealed that the Corona-19 virus attacks the endothelium (inner lining of the blood vessels), adding more risk to Sam’s future. ^[5]

In 2021, Flo, a retired physician, became concerned that her husband had plateaued. After researching stem cell therapy options, she recommended Ambrose Cell Therapy to Sam in 2022.

Sam’s Disease Progression
Sam’s first sign of ischemia was elevated blood pressure or hypertension (HTN). “His BP became a problem at least ten years ago.”, recalled Flo.

Cardiologists refer to HTN as the silent killer because it leads to heart attacks and strokes.

From 2009 to 2019, the deaths attributable to high BP rose by two-thirds, an astonishing number considering that one in four adults take antihypertensive medications.^{[6] [7]}

• Every cigarette Sam or anyone smokes causes a temporary rise in blood pressure. And smoking leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Thus, a smoker’s blood is more likely to clot, forcing the heart to work harder.
• Mercury toxicity correlates with hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular incidents, and atherosclerosis.
• Insulin resistance, i.e., pre-diabetes, is associated with low cerebral blood flow (perfusion).
• Pre-diabetes, a hallmark of metabolic syndrome, links to vascular dementia. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

Flo’s Distrust
Flo, a retired physician, lacked confidence in the standard-of-care drugs, e.g., Donepezil (Aricept) and Memantine (Namenda). “I didn’t let the doctors put Sam on those medications. I saw they had short-term benefits but could make things worse with long-term use.”

A British study published in 2004 suggested that Aricept has “disappointingly little overall benefit and is not worth the cost.”

Flo also knew to steer clear of drug combinations, including anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-seizure, and sleep meds (polypharmacy). Neurologists prescribe polypharmacy to patients with neurodegenerative diseases despite its well-documented contribution to the progression and severity of dementia. In other words, drug companies profit, and patients pay the price. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

In May 2022, Sam presented to Ambrose with:

• Vascular dementia
• Post-stroke left-side imbalance and difficulty swallowing
• Elevated blood pressure, controlled with medication (Losartan)
• High cholesterol
• Pre-diabetes HbA1C 6.3, fasting glucose 106.
• High inflammatory markers, including homocysteine – 8.4
• Chronic lower back pain
• Shoulder arthritis
• Reclusive and depressed

Harnessing Sam’s Innate Biology
Flo believed in the body’s power to heal itself. That is why she was attracted to the RECODE protocol.

After Sam’s improvement stalled, she took the logical next step of researching stem cell therapy. But Google search results ranked common misinformation high. “Aren’t umbilical cord stem cells (UBSCs) more potent and effective than fat stem cells?” she asked.

Our critical review of Tony Robbin’s Life Force sets the record straight: Researchers have established that ADRCs are the most accessible, abundant, and potent cell population. Contrary to the extant dogma, stem cell depletion does not apply to ADRCs.^[17]

Dozens of peer-reviewed studies supported the potential to treat Sam’s combined disabilities in a single outpatient procedure.

Making an informed choice
Flo requested papers supporting potential benefits for Sam’s memory.

• In 2017 the University of Louisville’s Cardiovascular Innovation Institute demonstrated that intravenous delivery of ADRCs could improve blood vessel health. They predicted “the intravenous delivery of this therapeutic cell population would significantly improve tissue perfusion (the passage of blood), particularly in diseases with diffuse (widely spread) vascular involvement.”^[18]
• A just-published Japanese poster presentation reported remarkable improvements in MOCA scores after IV infusion of adipose-derived–mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs or Ad-MSC).^[19]
• Another study out of Japan demonstrated, “Treatment with Ad-MSC significantly improved HDL, LDL, and remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol levels…These findings suggest that Ad-MSC administration is safe and effective in patients developing arteriosclerosis, thereby providing an attractive tool for anti-aging application.^[20]
• Japanese researchers from Nagoya University concluded in a 2022 review article, Adipose-derived regenerative cells as a promising therapy for cardiovascular diseases: an overview, “Therapeutic angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) has been developed as a new treatment strategy for such patients.” ^[21]

 Ischemia – the Tip of the Iceberg
A robust body of literature confirms that ischemia is just the tip of the dementia iceberg. As we have discussed in articles on cell-assisted brain care, aging, and long-Covid recovery, chronic disease involves multisystem dysregulation.

A Golden Era of Self-Cell Repair details the research and discovery path upon which we base Ambrose Cell Therapy’s safety and potential effectiveness.  ^[22]

Sam’s Personalized Protocol
Per the Ambrose Master Protocol:

1. Ambrose’s board-certified plastic surgeon harvested 370 ccs of adipose tissue. The Celution™ System processed 310 ccs yielding 68 million ADRCs with 92% viability.

2. Ambrose’s fellowship-trained interventional pain specialist utilized the remaining 60 ccs to deliver 44 injections of PRP-enriched micro-fat:

• Para-spinal and para-facet injections -24
• Right shoulder -13
• Left wrist – 7

Summary of Benefits
Per Flo, over ten months, Sam went from reclusive, demented, and in chronic back pain to socializing with friends, playing an occasional round of golf, and enjoying his grandchildren.

He helps Flo with chores and preparing dinner and takes the initiative to attend church, meditate, and exercise. He engages in conversation without repeating himself. Flo wants to see his short-term memory improve but acknowledges Sam’s significant quality of life improvement.

Consistent with the studies Ambrose provided to Flo, objective evidence indicates cell therapy lowered Sam’s risk of another catastrophic stroke or a heart attack.

• His blood pressure normalized -120/80 or better most days – allowing him to discontinue losartan in the first few weeks following Sam’s Ambrose.
• His metabolic health and systemic inflammation showed remarkable improvement.
  • HbA1C – 6.4 to 5.3
  • Fasting glucose – 106 to 99
  • Homocysteine – 8.4 to 6.0

Sam’s cholesterol remained high until Flo put him on Zetia and a low dose of Crestor. The keto diet raises cholesterol in some and lowers it in others.

Setbacks
To be clear, Sam has had a few setbacks, including a bout of severe constipation. Diet changes resolved that issue.

He also had a flare of debilitating back pain. Notably, his current MRI shows multi-level spinal degeneration and facet arthritis. However, his months of better function, including long walks and restarting golf, lend credence to the Ambrose Cell-Assisted Spine Care Hypothesis.

With rest and conservative physical therapy, Sam said, “My back is better.” He resumed his daily walks a few weeks later.

Sam’s Perspective
“Stem cells are the future. I am a new man. I have much more energy. I am thinking much more clearly. I was worried about myself at one time, but not anymore.”

“It’s going well. I am doing very much better. I am playing golf. We are visiting our son and grandchildren in Hamptons this weekend,” declared Sam.

He had quit golf four years ago and had not visited his family in several years.

Details – Sam’s improving quality of life timeline (edited for brevity and clarity):

• April: Not repeating questions as often, short-term memory starting to improve. Sam’s masseuse noted he didn’t repeat the same question. And Sam asked about her daughter for the first time. He initiated going to exercise, church, and meditating.
• His blood pressure normalized. He discontinued losartan.
• May – Sam surprised Flo with Mother’s Day Flowers and teased her that her boyfriend from high school must have sent them.
• June – He played golf after quitting four years ago. Flo: “Good news Matt, we played golf – 9 holes, he had fun even though he didn’t play well, but he was able to give me some instructions and vice versa. Beautiful day today. He was fine and willing to go when I brought it up. I was so happy.”
• Left side imbalance from stroke is no longer evident. “He keeps his balance when walking. Swallowing is better.”, said Flo.
• Their son, Fred, a prominent healthcare mutual fund manager, acknowledged, “Dad is getting better.”, which is also a first.
• Sam and Flo had dinner with friends in New York City: “We had a good time. Sam had a good conversation with the others. However, he was not in a good mood. It looks like he got out of the wrong side of the bed. Sam did have these kinds of moments a lot, but recently it is unusual.”
• July – “I have good news this morning. My brother called Sam for his birthday. He did really good. Usually, he talks a little and hands me the phone, but this time they had a long conversation with laughs and jokes. I haven’t seen this for a long, long time. I think it is really positive progress.”
• August – Sam spoke for himself rather than deferring to Flo on a one-hour follow-up call. “I am a new man. I have much more energy, much more clear thinking. At one time, I was worried about myself, but not anymore,” he stated.
• Sam and Flo drove to the Hamptons to see their son and children. Their daughter’s family joined them. “Today, Sun played golf with our son, Fred, and our son-in-law, Jim. He had a good round. This trip was the first time Sam packed his things by himself. He didn’t have much anxiety like before…definitely improved. Jim said, ‘Dad is doing better for sure. Whatever I’m doing is helping him. When he played golf, his back was fine.”, Flo shared after the gathering.
• “We spent all afternoon (at the US Open) watching Medvedev and Coco play in Ashe Stadium. It was fun to be there and feel the action. Overall, we had fun watching the tennis and excitement.”
• September – Back to East Hampton for their grandson’s birthday. “Our son was surprised we stayed that long. Sam had fun and mingled with the guests. He didn’t have any issues.”
• October – Flo reports, “I have some good news. We went to speech therapy. Sometimes I don’t hear him well. The therapist asked him lots of questions. She did not want me to answer for Sam. I was delighted to see his improvement.”
• December 9 – Last night, Sam had a good conversation with his longtime friend in LA. They chatted with each other, including me. Sam was engaged in the conversation. It made me happy. At first, he didn’t remember it the next day, but after a little hint, he got it and remembered.”
• From Flo: “Sam’s phone has Face ID. I tried to help him log into Fidelity; of course, it didn’t recognize his face. He said, ‘how could you not recognize my wife’s face? Everything in there is hers!’”

As 2022 came to an end, Flo said, “Matt, I’d like to thank you for your support all year long. It’s been a great year for us.”

RJ’s Patient-Reported Outcome

Sports-related injuries, including concussions and whiplash, three failed shoulder surgeries, an unsuccessful right knee surgery, etc., retired RJ’s dream of playing Major League Baseball.

In May 2022, he exercised his Right to Try AMBROSE Cell Therapy. Seven months later, he says, “Y’all (AMBROSE) changed my life.”