Queen's Offers Deep Brain Stimulation to Steady Parkinson's Disease

An exciting new surgical intervention recently approved by the FDA for Parkinson's disease-Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)-is now offered by neurosurgeons at The Queen's Medical Center. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the central nervous system affecting as many as 1.5 million Americans.

Parkinson's progresses slowly, causing degenerative changes in the area of the brain which produces the chemical dopamine. Dopamine enables smooth, even movement. Tremors of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face are the most widely known symptom of Parkinson's disease, but actually occur in only 25 percent of those afflicted. Other symptoms may include rigidity of muscles; slowness of movement characterized by a delay in initiating movements (shuffling steps); poor balance and coordination; and impaired speech and swallowing. Secondary symptoms are depression, sleep disturbances, dizziness and constipation.

Deep Brain Stimulation uses electrical currents to block tremors. Based on pacemaker technology, DBS provides a patient-controlled treatment for tremors with a multi-electrode lead precisely implanted into the brain. An extension wire from the electrode is threaded from the scalp area to the chest where it is connected to a pulse generator. The wearer passes a hand-held magnet over the pulse generator to activate the device. Most patients turn the unit off at night.

DBS is one of the most dramatic advances in decades for the treatment of Parkinson's. While not appropriate for every patient, it is completely reversible. DBS may decrease the need for medications and has a positive effect on all symptoms of Parkinson's disease.