Restorative Neurosciences Program
Since its introduction in the early 1990s, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has successfully been used to treat disabling movement disorders related to Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor and multiple sclerosis. Promising research now indicates that the procedure will continue to show advancement in not only treating these more common movement disorders, but also other conditions related to brain activity.
DBS, whether used as a treatment option or as a research tool, is a complicated procedure that requires a skilled and knowledgeable surgical team and highly specialized equipment. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin have one of just a few centers in eastern Wisconsin now offering this effective surgical method.
DBS and Parkinson’s DiseaseIn 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved DBS for the treatment of tremor in Parkinson’s disease using a single implanted electrode. In January 2002, the FDA approved DBS using two implanted electrodes (bilateral, meaning one on each side of the brain). Several thousand Parkinson’s patients in the United States have now had the procedure. For most, DBS has vastly improved their quality of life. But researchers estimate that each year as many as 15 percent of people with Parkinson’s could benefit from DBS.
DBS in ResearchResearchers are currently examining the use of DBS to treat other disorders. Early studies indicate it could be used to relieve chronic nerve-related pain and muscle weakness related to stroke. Additionally, other possible areas of study for DBS include seizure disorders, paralysis, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and depression. And at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, DBS is being investigated as a possible treatment option for epilepsy.
Last Review Date: March 7, 2006 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler |