Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Scientists gain clues into how deep brain stimulation can help tackle Parkinson’s symptoms

Deep brain stimulation is a treatment used for late-stage Parkinson’s disease that involves surgically implanting thin wires, called electrodes, into the brain. These wires deliver small electric pulses into the head, which help reduce slow movement, tremors and stiffness.

However, scientists have been unsure how the treatment, which is given to around 300 patients a year, tackles Parkinson’s symptoms.

Dr Kambiz Alavian, senior author of the study from Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, said, “Deep brain stimulation has been used successfully to treat Parkinson’s for more than 20 years, and is often offered to patients once medication no longer controls their symptoms. But despite the success of the treatment, we still do not know exactly how delivering electric pulses to brain cells creates these beneficial effects.

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Our results, despite being at an early-stage, suggest electric pulses boost batteries in brain cells. This potentially opens avenues for exploring how to replicate this cell powerup with non-surgical treatments, without the need for implanting electrodes in the brain.”

The early-stage study done by researchers at Imperial College London suggests the treatment boosts the number and strength of brain cell batteries called mitochondria. These batteries, in turn, provide power to brain cells, which may help reduce problems with movement and tremors.

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