If you have been reading my blogs, you probably know of my interest in Parkinson Disease(PD), Alzheimer's(AZ), Dystonia(DT) and other neurological diseases. In my latest web search, I was excited to find this very informative video by Dr Andres Lozano on Deep Brain Stimulation for the cure of PD, AZ and Dystonia. I am delighted to share it with you.
What is Deep Brain Stimulation? Here's some information from Wikipedia.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. DBS in select brain regions has provided therapeutic benefits for otherwise-treatment-resistant movement and affective disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and chronic pain. Despite the long history of DBS, its underlying principles and mechanisms are still not clear. DBS directly changes brain activity in a controlled manner, its effects are reversible (unlike those of lesioning techniques), and it is one of only a few neurosurgical methods that allow blinded studies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved DBS as a treatment for essential tremor in 1997, for Parkinson's disease in 2002, and dystonia in 2003. DBS is also used in research studies to treat chronic pain and has been used to treat various affective disorders, including major depression. Neither of these applications of DBS have yet been FDA-approved. While DBS has proven helpful for some patients, there is potential for serious complications and side effects.
While DBS is helpful for some patients, there is also the potential for neuropsychiatric side-effects. Reports in the literature describe the possibility of apathy, hallucinations, compulsive gambling, hypersexuality, cognitive dysfunction, and depression. However, these may be temporary and related to correct placement and calibration of the stimulator and so are potentially reversible.
Reference:en.wikipedia.org
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