Deep Brain Stimulation: Q & A

The Thinker

The Michael J Fox Foundation just published a booklet explaining deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure that can help certain people with Parkinson’s disease.  Click here to open it.

According to the booklet, deep brain stimulation helps take care of these symptoms:

  • Slowness or lack of movement (bradykinesia and akinesia)
  • Stiffness of muscles (rigidity)
  • Shaking of the limbs (tremor)
  • Gait problems that remain responsive to levodopa
  • Mild balance problems that remain responsive to levodopa
  • Motor fluctuation (variations in level of motor symptoms and their control by medication)
  • Dyskinesia (involuntary, excessive movements of the body, usually occurring when medications peak)
  • Dystonia (painful abnormal muscle activation that causes toe curling or twisting of hand or feet)
  • Nighttime motor symptoms that emerge due to lack of frequent medication doses
  • Body pain from PD (sometimes)

 

DBS does not really help with these symptoms:

  • Speech problems
  • Swallowing problems
  • Cognitive problems
  • Mood problems (depression, anxiety)
  • Freezing of gait or other movement that occurs when medications are working at their best
  • Moderate or greater balance problems
  • Bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction

To find out more, click here!

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