Brain “Pacemaker” Beneficial for Parkinson’s
New research confirms that the stimulation of the deep brain benefits Parkinson’s patients in term of symptom control and quality of life. The study shows that deep brain surgery, along with medication, can reduce the movement related symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The surgical process involves the placement of electrodes deep into the brain that block the electrical signals that cause the movement disorders. The small battery operated device is implanted under the skin and controls the stimulations.
A study in the UK included 366 patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Three-fourths of these patients cited involuntary, jerky movements and were considering the surgery. A year after half the patients had the surgery 48% reported of having no jerky movements during the day, compared to the 14% of patients only on medication. 29% of the patients who had surgery said they had complete control of their movements throughout the day, compared to the 3% of the medication only patients.
However, along with any other surgery this surgery has some risks. 25% of the patients reported serious treatment related problems and one patient even died during surgery. Neurologists believe that many people who could benefit from the surgery are not getting it. Roughly 10 to 20% of Parkinson’s patients exhibit symptoms severe enough to qualify for the surgery. Dr. Michael Okun, MD, hopes that studies like this one, published in Lancet Neurology, will help more patients decide to have the surgery.
-Kelli Martinez
VTPP 435-501
http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20100428/brain-pacemaker-beneficial-parkinsons
The surgical process involves the placement of electrodes deep into the brain that block the electrical signals that cause the movement disorders. The small battery operated device is implanted under the skin and controls the stimulations.
A study in the UK included 366 patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Three-fourths of these patients cited involuntary, jerky movements and were considering the surgery. A year after half the patients had the surgery 48% reported of having no jerky movements during the day, compared to the 14% of patients only on medication. 29% of the patients who had surgery said they had complete control of their movements throughout the day, compared to the 3% of the medication only patients.
However, along with any other surgery this surgery has some risks. 25% of the patients reported serious treatment related problems and one patient even died during surgery. Neurologists believe that many people who could benefit from the surgery are not getting it. Roughly 10 to 20% of Parkinson’s patients exhibit symptoms severe enough to qualify for the surgery. Dr. Michael Okun, MD, hopes that studies like this one, published in Lancet Neurology, will help more patients decide to have the surgery.
-Kelli Martinez
VTPP 435-501
http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20100428/brain-pacemaker-beneficial-parkinsons
posted by Kelli Martinez at 4:38 PM
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