„The incredible journey of brain neurostimulation“
In 1986, L.A. Benabid and P. Pollak proposed applying continuous high-frequency stimulation to the lateral thalamus to improve contralateral tremor. Compared to previous thalamotomy procedures, this approach had the advantages of being reversible and adjustable. A few years later, the same team applied the technique to the subthalamic nucleus, achieving dramatic improvements in the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Since then, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proven effective as a symptomatic treatment for severe tremor and Parkinson’s disease symptoms and is now used worldwide.
Following this success, DBS was also tested—and ultimately adopted—for the treatment of other movement disorders, such as primary and secondary dystonia and Tourette syndrome. It has also been evaluated, with less consistent results, for conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
In the last decade, DBS technology has advanced significantly, featuring device miniaturization, rechargeable batteries, directional electrodes, and closed-loop stimulation systems that adjust current based on brain activity. Despite these extraordinary advancements, it is important to remember that DBS is a form of brain surgery, carrying a low but real risk of serious side effects. Therefore, the benefit-risk ratio must always be carefully assessed.
Kontakt:
Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Oertel
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Sergiu Groppa, MBA
+49 6841 16 -24400
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