Ever wished you could bottle your good health when you're young - and save some for when you really need it? Consider your wish granted. Until recently, the only option for stem cell banking and storage was for newborns,- collected at birth from the umbilical cord. If you missed this opportunity, it was gone forever. With the amazing development of adult blood stem cell collection and storage, it is now possible to set aside your own ?and even older children's (80 pounds and over) - "reserve funds" to help treat diseases associated with aging and aid in regenerating your immune system, tissues and even organs. Talk about paying yourself first! Surprisingly, while cord blood offers a uniquely potent source for cell repair, adult stem cells offer perfectly matched cells with more rapid engraftment where they are needed most. A simple blood draw in the convenience of your home or office of 200 to 350 milliliters of blood is then processed using specialized automated equipment. The stem cells are then frozen in liquid nitrogen at such low temperatures that they actually go into a state of hibernation and cease aging. As long as they remain undisturbed, they can stay young and safe for decades for use when possibly needed the most.

A stimulus package you can trust - "Cardiovascular disease is the terminator in our family," says Ann Salamone of Boca Raton, Florida. "My father and his mother died of congestive heart failure. I researched how people are using stem cells to repair injured heart muscle. Then I looked at my family's situation. I set the cost of cardiovascular disease against the cost of not having the stem cells at a time of crisis, and yes, it is worth it."

In addition to aiding in the fight against heart disease, clinical data has proven that stem cell therapy assists the body's natural processes in fighting other diseases, as well as repairing and regenerating cells, tissues and organs, including bone, cartilage and breast tissue. ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the National Institutes of Health that registers both federal and private trials, reported that more than 2,300 trials were underway worldwide (at various stages) to study the potential uses of adult stem cells.

Extensive research is in progress with over 770 new therapies. Current trials focus on the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including:

• Autoimmune Diseases
• Diabetes
• Tissue and Blood Cancers
• Breast Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Parkinson's Disease
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Aplastic Anemia

"Stem cell therapy reintroduces stem cells into your body where they then migrate to the bone marrow and replenish their natural ?niche? sites," says Dr. Connie Araps, Vice President of Operations with AssureImmune, the leading private adult stem cell collection and preservation medical service company. "If they sense a disease process, they are stimulated to transform into millions of new white blood cells to fight the disease. Stem cells can also be introduced directly into damaged tissues and organs to focus their regenerative capacity."

For example, stem cells injected into the coronary arteries are enabling there generation of heart tissue after a heart attack. Patients with diabetes are being treated by injection of stem cells into the arterial system of the pancreas, where they generate new islet cells, which begin to produce insulin.

For people like Salamone, specific risk factors like cardiovascular disease and diabetes make blood stem cell banking a sound proactive investment for their future health needs. Stem cells have been successfully used over the past 40 years for bone marrow transplants and are currently used to treat more than 70 different conditions, including rebuilding the immune system after chemotherapy treatment for leukemia, lymphoma and a variety of blood and autoimmune disorders.

"It is important to note that you do not need FDA approval if you are using your own cells," adds Dr. Araps. "Approval is required only if you use the cells from other sources - such as family members or public stem cell banks? or if the cells have been manipulated or manufactured. The advantage of using your own stem cells to treat disease is that there are no rejection reactions."

Investment in the future - The number of stem cell banking options continues to grow; however, there are currently only two private collection and storage companies. No matter where you choose to bank, do be sure that the bank you choose is registered with the FDA and has the proper licensing, whether the bank is public or private. Also, you need to consider the cost.

According to the Association of Family Cord Blood Banks, the average cost to bank a newborn's cord blood is approximately $2,000 for the collection and about $125 per year for storage. Other fees are often involved. For adult stem cell collection and storage, costs are within a similar range, but do vary from bank to bank. It is important to choose a bank that has the most up-to-date technology in collection and storage, and also tests for infection and contamination.

While dedicated to infant cord blood, the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation (parentsguidecordblood.org) offers a list of requirements that should also be reviewed by those seeking the right fit for adult banking:

• Collection of Blood Sample
• Shipping & Handling
• Laboratory Testing & Accreditation
• Processing
• Storage Facility
• Company Stability
• Consumer Rights
• Price Protection

As with any type of banking, your "funds" are only as safe as the people, processes and equipment used to collect, process and store them. Ideally, your cells should be bar-coded, collected and processed under sterile conditions. In addition, samples should be minimally manipulated and stored in their natural plasma environment in the most technologically sound automated, robotic storage tanks, which eliminate virtually all handling errors.

Start your account today - It's never too late to start planning for the future, especially when it concerns your health and the health of your loved ones. "Storing your healthy adult blood stem cells is an excellent way to preserve the opportunity to live longer and have a better quality of life through emerging therapies that can regenerate tissues and organs and boost the immune system," says Dr. Araps. "It is best to bank your cells when you are young, because as we age, stem cells are subject to the same genetic damage that occurs to all of our cells. But no matter your age, it's never too late if you are healthy."

For more information about adult and cord blood stem cell banking and storage, visit www.assureimmune.com