Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Referring doctors increasingly aware of deep brain stimulation therapy; more work remains

Researchers found that while deep brain stimulation has increased acceptance among referring physicians for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, only half of recommended patients are appropriate candidates for immediate therapy. This suggests that physicians have become more aware and accepting of the treatment, but may re...

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalArchives of Neurology·DateAug 15, 2011

Beyond improving Parkinson's symptoms, does deep brain stimulation stall their progression?

A new study by Michele Tagliati and colleagues found that patients with deep brain stimulation experienced no significant progression of motor symptoms over five years. The research suggests that the therapy may actually stabilize these symptoms, challenging previous assumptions about Parkinson's disease progression.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalInternational Journal of Neuroscience·DateJan 17, 2011

New therapy gives hope for very severe depression

A new study from University of Bonn suggests that deep brain stimulation can significantly improve depression in half of patients, who had previously not responded to other therapies. The treatment involves implanting electrodes in the nucleus accumbens, a key area of the brain's reward system.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateNov 2, 2009

How brain pacemakers erase diseased messages

Biomedical engineers at Duke University found that deep brain stimulation alleviates disease symptoms by creating an informational lesion through rapid-fire electrical pulses. This technique can be reversible and adjustable, offering a promising treatment for movement disorders and other conditions.

SourceDuke University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering·DateMay 30, 2007

Depression: New therapy gives reason for hope

A study at the University of Bonn found that two men and a woman with severe depression experienced significant improvements in their symptoms after receiving deep brain stimulation. The therapy, which targets the nucleus accumbens area of the brain, showed promising results despite the small patient group.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateApr 18, 2007