Deep brain stimulation

(DBS) is a surgical treatment that involves the implantation of a brain pacemaker that can send electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.

Deep brain stimulation

(DBS) is a surgical treatment that involves the implantation of a brain pacemaker that can send electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain.

Deep brain stimulation

is an accepted therapy for advanced Parkinson disease, but little is known about how it compares to medical treatment.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment that involves the implantation of a brain pacemaker that can send electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. DBS is an accepted therapy for advanced Parkinson disease, but little is known about how it compares to medical treatment. According to a new study published in the January 7, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, DBS may be more effective than best medical therapy for advanced Parkinson patients .

Researchers from the Hines VA Hospital in Illinois and their colleagues studied 255 patients with advanced Parkinson disease for six months in order to compare outcomes of DBS versus best medical therapy. They found that patients treated with DBS experienced significant improvements in motor function and quality of life compared to those treated with medical therapy. However, they also found that DBS was associated with an approximately 4-fold increased risk of serious adverse events, most related to the surgical procedure. It was also noted that most of these events resolved during the 6-month follow-up period.

Although this study suggests that DBS is effective in reducing the movement-related symptoms of Parkinson disease, further research is needed to determine the best timing and the best candidates for DBS pacemaker implantation.

Source

JAMA. 2009;301:63-73.