Ozzy Osbourne isn’t letting his health ride the “Crazy Train” any longer.
The legendary heavy metal icon, who turned 75 in December, is battling mobility issues and early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He’s banking on “risky” stem cell therapy to help him rock on in his golden years, as he disclosed on his satellite radio show.
“The thing is, you have it, and you go, ‘I don’t feel that great,’ but I don’t know what it would be like if I didn’t have it,” Osbourne revealed about his treatment, which he underwent just three months ago. “After having some stem cells put in me, it’s made a difference.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ozzy tried his first stem cell therapy, and daughter Kelly Osbourne said he just wants “to be a part of the world again.” He’s still planning to rock out at two final shows in his hometown, though the dates haven’t been nailed down.
“Seeing, after one treatment of stem cell, what has happened and the progress that he’s made is mind-blowing,” Kelly said.
Stem cell therapies are all the rage, often promising to turn back the clock by reverting older cells into youthful versions capable of doing different jobs in the body. While they’ve been used successfully to treat everything from brain injuries to bad knees, the FDA has only approved a select few, mainly for certain blood cancers and immune disorders. A big breakthrough came in 2023, when the agency gave the green light to a cord blood-based therapy targeting post-stem cell transplant infections.
“We routinely use cellular therapies, including stem cells, to treat cancers of the blood and bone marrow,” explained Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, chief of the division of hematology at the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami. He said that high-dose chemotherapy could wipe out bone marrow cells if not for the protection stem cells offer. “Use of stem cells in this way has saved tens of thousands of lives.”
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But even if the “Crazy Train” crooner finds some relief, a “silver bullet” cure for Parkinson’s isn’t likely, cautioned Dr. Michael S. Okun, a medical advisor to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
“Though there have been many advances in stem cell technology, the realization that Parkinson’s is a disease of more than just dopamine underscores the importance of multidisciplinary treatment,” explained Okun, who also serves as the executive director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida.
He warned those seeking a quick fix to avoid “stem cell tourism,” where patients are charged exorbitant sums and risk serious side effects. “Folks interested in Parkinson’s stem cell therapy should be cautious if ever offered a treatment,” he added, noting that legitimate trials often don’t charge patients a dime.