SAN JOSE: Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) targeting the subthalamic nucleus with a multiple-source constant-current device effectively suppresses motor symptoms in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), report researchers.
The 16-output, multiple-channel, constant-current device used in the study allows shaping of the electrical field, which the researchers hoped would minimize spread of the current to non-target tissue, thus reducing adverse effects and maximising therapeutic efficacy.
The results are remarkable, with the 38 patients achieving an average 62% improvement in their Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS III) score.