Duke University’s team of physicians, neuroscientists, and engineers have made significant strides in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease through innovative deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques.
Their latest research, published in the journal Brain, introduces two new strategies that have shown promising results in improving Parkinson’s symptoms.
For two decades, DBS has been a key treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease, particularly when medications alone are insufficient.
This technique involves using a pacemaker-like device to send electrical impulses to specific brain areas, reducing tremors, stiffness, and involuntary movements commonly seen in Parkinson’s patients. Despite its effectiveness, there’s been a continuous search for ways to enhance this therapy.
Senior author Dennis Turner, a professor at Duke University, and his team focused on simultaneously targeting two critical brain structures: the subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus.
This dual approach aimed to complement the benefits of stimulating each location separately, potentially reducing medication doses and side effects.
Another significant advancement introduced by the team is adaptive DBS. Traditional DBS involves fixed electrical parameters set by a physician, but these static settings might not be optimal for the varying needs of a Parkinson’s patient throughout the day.
Warren Grill, a biomedical engineering professor at Duke, compares this to a smart thermostat that adjusts according to external conditions.
The team collaborated with Medtronic to develop a system capable of sensing and recording key biomarkers and brain activity, automatically adjusting stimulation levels for optimal symptom relief. This adaptive approach promises a more personalized and efficient treatment.
In a clinical trial at Duke University Medical Center, six patients aged between 55 and 65 with varying Parkinson’s symptoms were studied. The researchers first observed the effects of standard, continuous DBS while targeting both brain regions.
They then implemented the adaptive DBS system, focusing on beta oscillations in the subthalamic nucleus – a key indicator linked to Parkinson’s movement issues.
After two years, the results were clear: dual-target DBS improved motor symptoms more effectively than targeting a single area, and adaptive DBS applied less stimulation while maintaining effectiveness in both clinical and home environments.
According to Kyle Mitchell, Assistant Professor of Neurology at DUSM, the clinical responses to dual-target stimulation were exceptional, and the adaptive system matched these outcomes.
This research marks a significant leap in making DBS a more precise and effective therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
Encouraged by these results, the Duke team plans to further refine adaptive DBS and proceed with more comprehensive clinical trials.
This innovative approach holds great promise for the future of Parkinson’s treatment, offering a more customized and sophisticated method to alleviate the debilitating symptoms of this disease.
The success of this study is a testament to the dedication of the participants, their families, and caregivers, whose involvement has been pivotal in achieving these groundbreaking advancements.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about Vitamin E that may help prevent Parkinson’s disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new way to treat Parkinson’s disease, and results showing COVID-19 may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Brain.
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