What is Deep Brain Stimulation?
Deep brain stimulation, also known as DBS, is used to treat certain neurological conditions or disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, or other neurological conditions when medication fails to treat the issue as effectively as desired. DBS works by the implantation of Electrodes (which are thin, little wires) in specific areas of the brain. These electrodes are connected to a small device called a neurostimulator, which is usually placed under the skin near the collarbone, and the device will send controlled electrical impulses to targeted brain regions, thereby disrupting any abnormal brain activity that causes the symptoms of the condition.
Benefits and Risks
Deep brain stimulation can help with the symptoms of different conditions, such as Parkinson's disease. It can help them by decreasing tremors, stiffness, slowness, and also dyskinesias. Recent studies have also shown that this device has significantly improved the quality of life more than other treatments, such as those used before this medical therapy. The benefits that deep brain stimulation can offer will vary based on the condition they are being used to treat. But now what are the possible side effects it can have that are not so nice and indeed can be a treat to its user?
When we talk about the medical field, we know we are referring to an area where the goal is to keep the patient healthy; However, we cannot forget that, after all, we cannot cure every single disease and pain a patient may experience. Nevertheless, medical providers' goal is to ensure that every device or treatment they offer to the patient is as safe as possible, and even if in some cases they can include serious side effects or invasive procedures, once we cant forget that the provider wouldn't recommend them or offer them, if the results weren't worth the danger.
Deep brain stimulation is one of such. This as we stated before consists of the implantation of electrodes into the patient's body, not only that but also can have side effects such as seizures, infections, headaches, focus loss, and even strokes. These side effects are terrifying for some patients, and we completely understand it. But we cannot forget, that we do not have the technology to fix everything when it comes to human health without any drawbacks yet, and this is an example of it.
There is always going to be a great divide in opinions when deciding whether or not deep brain stimulation is worth the risk, however, if the cost would outweigh the benefits, this treatment wouldn't be offered by no medical provider.
Important things to keep In mind about DBS
Things that you should keep in mind when dealing with DBS are:
- DBA is not a cure to any disease; however is a way of treatment which is really effective and will be used when medication does not work as desired.
- DBS, unlike other brain surgeries, does not destroy or damage any brain tissue, and the stimulation can be adjusted or even turned off if needed, so its effects are completely reversible
The history of Deep Brain Stimulation
The concept of using electrical stimulation to treat brain disorders can be traced back to the 1950s. When early experiments started to be conducted on animals, researchers began to find the value this technology could potentially have on healthcare. After a good while of research and animal trials, the first human trials for this kind of technology took place in the 1980s, when doctors started to use it to treat Parkinson's disease, as patients did not respond well to the medication. Over the years, the technology has kept improving and led to better electrodes and neuro simulations, which allowed for more precision and better results when it came to controlling the patients' symptoms. As the technology for DBS got better, more research about what other conditions could be treated with it took place, and the application range for this kind of therapy grew wider, being able to reach more people and helping with their symptoms. Today, DBS is a well-known treatment option for quite a vast number of neurological disorders; some people still see it as scary. However, this kind of technology has proven that its benefits will always outweigh the risks, as DBS is giving back a more average lifestyle to its users.
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