Researchers may not have discovered a cure for Parkinson's disease, yet. But they have uncovered a powerful way to help manage its symptoms.
Hear Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon Kendall H. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., share how deep brain stimulation can help curb the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease. And how it offers "real hope" for people living with this disease.
Why deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a game changer for people with Parkinson's
Kendall H. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Neurologic Surgery: In Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, we have terrific medications that are very effective for both of these disorders.
We use deep brain stimulation if the medication's not working or if the medications are causing now side effects that we don't want.
The surgery involves drilling a hole and implanting electrodes into deep area. That's why it's called deep brain stimulation. It is very effective.
DBS affects really benefits all three, what we call cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease. And they are tremor, rigidity and what's called bradykinesia — or slowness of movement.
If you're constantly tremoring or you can't move, or you're frozen, or you're so rigid, or even there is a symptom where you lose facial expression as well. The quality of life when we improve these symptoms is tremendous.
And it is remarkable: In our patients here at Mayo Clinic, on average, 80% of our patients are able to cut their need for medication by half, by 50%, which is amazing. In addition, again on average, our patients are able to have what's called on-time, the time that they can move more freely, four more hours on average a day.
So this is a wonderful therapy for Parkinson's disease. And knowing there is this therapy, I think, gives our patients real hope.
Dr. Lee has dedicated his career to developing new treatments for patients with Parkinson's.
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