'Brain Pacemaker' Can Effectively Treat Parkinson's Disease

New studies show that a brain pacemaker called deep brain stimulation (DBS) is successful in treating Parkinson's disease.

New studies show that a "brain pacemaker" called deep brain stimulation (DBS) is successful in treating Parkinson's disease.

The study also puts an age-old debate to rest of which region of the brain to stimulate-the globus pallidus interna or the subthalamic nucleus. It says that stimulating either region resulted in similar improvements in motor function. There were small differences in non-motor effects such as mood and cognitive function.

About Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease is a chronic, progressive, brain disorder common among the elderly. It affects coordination between the brain and the muscles

"Both targets in the brain are viable for improving motor function. This is great news for patients," said Frances Weaver, PhD, of Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola University Health System. Weaver, one of the study's lead investigators, is a professor and director of the Program in Health Research at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and director of the Center for Management of Complex Chronic Care at Hines VA Hospital.

DBS is not a cure, and it does not stop the disease from progressing, but can significantly improve symptoms, especially tremors and can also reduce rigidity.

"DBS increases the percentage of time that a patient is functional," said Loyola neurosurgeon Dr. Douglas Anderson, who has an active practice in DBS and movement disorders.

Parkinson's Disease
Slide animation on Parkinson disease. It is a progressive movement disorder due to degeneration of nerve cells of the substantia nigra of the brain. The symptoms get worse with time but drugs or surgery can control them. PD cannot be cured.

"It also improves a patient's ability to move arms or legs in a more coordinated fashion. And there is a lessening of bradykinesia [slowness of motion]."

In the DBS procedure, a neurosurgeon drills a dime-size hole in the skull and inserts an electrode about four inches into the brain. A connecting wire from the electrode runs under the skin to a battery implanted near the collarbone. The electrode delivers mild electrical signals that effectively reorganize the brain's electrical impulses. The procedure can be done on one or both sides of the brain.

Parkinson's Disease - Surgical Treatment
Slide animation on surgery for Parkinson disease. Surgery is only indicated where drugs fail to control the symptoms of this progressive movement disorder. Surgery cannot cure the disease.

The study conducted amongst 299 Parkinson's disease patients assigned to receive DBS in either the globus pallidus interna or subthalamic nucleus showed that patients who received subthalamic stimulation required lower doses of L-dopa medications. But the subthalamic group also had slower visuomotor speed, which measures how quickly a patient thinks and acts on information. Also, depression got worse in the subthalamic group, but lessoned in the pallidal group.

"Based on the findings of this study, we expect that doctors will consider factors other than motor function when deciding what region of the brain to target," Weaver said.

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The study is published in the June 3, 2010 New England Journal of Medicine.

Source-ANI