Deep brain stimulation

"In the United States, an estimated 42 million people suffer from some form of movement disorder, including Parkinsons disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), and dystonia. Although medications may be helpful for these conditions, in many patients, symptoms cannot be controlled with medications alone. In such situations, their physicians may recommend a surgical procedure known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS is a revolutionary technology using an implanted device to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain to help symptoms, alleviate suffering, and improve quality of life. Deep brain stimulation has dramatically changed the lives of many patients with uncontrollable tremors. Patients often can resume normal activities, such as feeding and dressing themselves, and can have active and fulfilling lives. The need for anti-tremor medications is often reduced or eliminated. Though it's no longer considered experimental, DBS is, for now, still used as a second- or third-line treatment, reserved for patients with more advanced cases of the disease and those for whom medication alone is inadequate or can't be adjusted precisely enough to keep their tremors and writhing under control. The use of Deep Brain Stimulation continues to evolve and doctors are realizing that the earlier they perform the procedure the more they can improve the quality of life of their patients. Deep Brain Stimulation is the first book to be written by a team of experts that clearly explains the benefits, pros, and cons of this revolutionary new treatment"--

"A deep brain stimulator (DBS) device is like a pacemaker for the heart, but the electrodes are placed into the brain. DBS helps in neurological disorders by changing the activity of brain cells depending on where the electrodes are placed. In 1973, Yoshio Hosobuchi first performed chronic deep brain stimulation, to treat pain, by implanting electrodes. In 2002, long-term results of pallidal stimulation were reported for Parkinson's disease. Thus, this book discusses how Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and a few other neurological and psychiatric disorders are treated with DBS"--