Neuromodulation restores or improves function in patients by correcting abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
A Pacemaker for the Brain
The limitations of medical therapy ushered in a renewed interest in surgical techniques for Parkinson’s in the 1980s, and in the early 1990s, neurosurgeons harnessed the technology of cardiac pacemakers to treat movement disorders. By placing small electrodes into an area of the brain involved with motor function and stimulating that area with an implanted pacemaker, surgeons were able to stop tremor, melt away rigidity and improve movement in patients with Parkinson’s.
In much the same way that a cardiac pacemaker uses electrical stimulation to correct abnormal rhythms in the heart, neuromodulation, through deep brain stimulation (DBS), uses electrical stimulation to correct abnormal rhythms in the brain. Since its introduction, DBS has been used to treat more than 80,000 patients worldwide. The FDA approved its use in the United States in 1997, and several large clinical studies have confirmed the benefit and safety of DBS for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Learn how Barrow is taking Parkinson's care to the next level of service.
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Additional Exciting Applications for Neuromodulation
Researchers and physicians at Barrow believe there are five major areas that may dramatically benefit from neuromodulation treatment.
Neuropsychiatric Disorders
These disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome. Outside of Parkinson’s, these conditions have benefited most in recent years from the use of neuromodulation. In 2009, the FDA, for the first time, approved deep brain stimulation for a psychological disorder by okaying its use for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Early studies also have shown promising results in the treatment of depression and Tourette’s syndrome.
DEPRESSION FACTS:
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More than 120 million people worldwide have depression.
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Depression is a leading cause of disability.
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About 6.7% of U.S. adults have depression.
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Women are 70% more likely than men to experience depression.
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About 20% of people with depression do not respond to standard therapy.
Acquired Brain Injury
Patients suffering from stroke and traumatic brain injury may benefit from research at the Barrow Center for Neuromodulation. Researchers believe that some stroke victims and people suffering from other conditions where motor function is lost or reduced may be able to acquire new skills or recover some lost motor function with the use of neuromodulation.
Aging Brain Disorders
These disorders include Alzheimer’s disease and dementias. Researchers want to study the possibilities of using neuromodulation with Alzheimer's patients. Preliminary results at other institutions look promising, but it will take several more years of testing to know for certain whether a mild electrical current can spark memories locked away by this devastating disease.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Researchers believe there may be applications for neuromodulation in autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and mental retardation. The rapid proliferation of autism make this a particularly important area of study.
Other Disabling Disorders
These disorders include chronic pain syndromes, cluster headaches, and addictions. In the area of chronic pain, recent statistics indicate that one in five people worldwide suffer from moderate to severe chronic pain. Neuromodulation is now being used to at several medical facilities to treat chronic unresponsive pain. The exact mechanism that creates pain relief is yet to be fully understood, but neuromodulation is being used in cases where other treatments have been unsuccessful.
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