Deep Brain Stimulation: A Transformative Approach to Neurological Disorders
Over the past few years, neuroscience has made breathtaking advances toward unlocking new treatments for complicated and severe neurological diseases. One such advance that is transforming lives every day is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) – a super-specialised surgical treatment giving hope to people living with chronic neural conditions. But what actually is DBS, and how does it work for people inside the UK with conditions like Parkinson’s, essential tremor, epilepsy, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
In this blog, we take a closer look at DBS—what it is, how it works, the types of conditions it can treat, the benefits it provides, and what it means for you or a loved one if you’re considering this life-changing treatment.
What is Deep Brain Stimulation?
The procedure of Deep Brain Stimulation includes the surgical insertion of electrodes into certain regions of the brain. These electrodes deliver precisely controlled electric pulses which can change or control abnormal brain activity. Depending on the disorder, the brain circuits may be either suppressed or heightened by these impulses.
The stimulation is delivered by a device that is much like a pacemaker and implanted below the skin in the upper chest. It’s connected by a thin, bendable wire that extends under the skin to electrodes in the brain. When turned on, it delivers continuous electrical pulses, changing the activity in the part of the brain being targeted to relieve symptoms.
What’s more, as opposed to certain forms of surgery, DBS is not destructive to brain tissue, and is fully adjustable and reversible, providing for the possibility of varying its application over time.
Conditions Commonly Treated with DBS
Deep Brain Stimulation is typically utilised when medications can no longer give good control of the symptoms or the side effects are too much to handle. It is recommended mainly for:
1. Parkinson’s Disease
DBS is commonly used for treating advanced Parkinson’s disease, particularly in patients having significant motor fluctuations and tremors. The stimulation may alleviate symptoms like stiffness, slowed motion (bradykinesia), and tremor, restoring the ability to move and function in patients.
2. Essential Tremor
This is the condition that causes you to involuntarily shake—typically in the hands—and it can seriously affect your quality of life. DBS has been demonstrated to decrease tremor severity in many patients and to enable them to perform everyday activities, such as eating, writing, and dressing.
3. Dystonia
Dystonia is characterised by involuntary muscle contractions which result in repetitive movements or abnormal postures. DBS can be helpful in certain forms of dystonia, especially if they do not respond to medication.
4. Epilepsy
In people with drug-resistant epilepsy, DBS can help reduce the number and intensity of seizures. For patients when conventional treatment such as medication or resective surgery has failed, DBS is another therapeutic option in which we can modulate certain areas of the brain.
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessions refer to repeated thoughts and obsession about something (i.e., cleanliness), while compulsions involve repeated rituals (i.e., washing) to alleviate the obsession.
DBS has also been applied to the most severe and treatment-refractory cases of OCD. Despite continuing to be considered an experimental treatment, studies have shown some success with treating obsessive thoughts and compulsion, in a subset of patients.
Benefits and Considerations
DBS is not a cure (or rarely a cure), but it can make a big difference in quality of life if drugs alone are not enough to control or lessen symptoms. Some of the advantages are:
- Enhanced motor function and decreased tremor
- Decreased drug dosage and the respective side effects
- Tunability – settings can be altered without additional surgery
- Reversible – You can switch off the device or remove it whenever you need to
Like any operation, DBS isn’t without risk. This could be infection, bleeding in the brain, issues with the hardware, or other temporary effects like speech or balance problems. That’s why a multidisciplinary team performs a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether a patient is a candidate for DBS.
What to Expect Before and After the Procedure
When DBS is recommended, patients are usually subjected to multiple evaluations that often include brain scans, a review of neurologic function, and in some cases, psychiatric evaluation. These make sure that DBS is appropriate and assist in pinpointing the exact brain targets to place the electrodes.
The surgery itself is typically conducted in two stages—one to place the electrode and another to implant the neurostimulator. The device is programmable after it is implanted, with a set of follow-up visits until the best symptom control is achieved.
Those positive effects are largely observed just days or weeks after the implantation of the device, although the programme can be fine-tuned in the longer term to optimise the added value. Long-term success depends on continued follow-up and cooperation with a multidisciplinary team.
Is Deep Brain Stimulation Right for You?
DBS is a complex and effective treatment, but it doesn’t work for everyone. People who have had prior surgery, previous radiation therapy, who are older than 60, or have a proximal deep vein thrombosis do not benefit from IVC filter placement.
- Symptoms have been going on for years
- Respond to medication but cannot tolerate side effects or find relief to be inconsistent
- Are in good general health to undergo surgery
- Are prepared to invest the effort of identifying and tracking contacts. Notify their spokesperson if they are willing to make this commitment.
Final Thoughts
Deep Brain Stimulation is a ray of hope for patients plagued by neurological conditions. Whether you are thinking about it for yourself or helping a family member or friend through it, becoming educated about DBS is a key first step. The product, which has made a huge difference to patients around the country, is capable of dramatically improving symptoms and the ability to function.
To see if this treatment is an option for you, schedule a consultation with one of our specialists. Our caring staff will walk you through the decision-making process from the beginning to the end, to ensure you receive quality care to fit your lifestyle.
👉 To discuss this treatment/investigation, please book an appointment with our specialists.
👉 To learn more, visit the NHS DBS resource
Chase Lodge Hospital – Your trusted partner in advanced neurological care.
