Responsive brain stimulation could improve life for Parkinson’s sufferers

Researchers in Oxford have demonstrated a significant improvement in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease with deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation involves permanently inserting electrodes into the brain to deliver electrical impulses that cancel out the brain signals causing symptoms of Parkinson's. The new 'adaptive' system, successfully trialled by a Oxford University team based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, only delivers electrical stimulation when it detects the brainwaves responsible for causing the symptoms. This is a significant refinement - present systems deliver continuous electrical stimulation to the brain. The personalised system, which actively detects and responds to a patient's brainwaves using a brain-computer interface, proved more effective than conventional stimulation. By using less than half the power of existing systems, it could also reduce the need for repeat operations to replace batteries. "Parkinson's symptoms fluctuate on a moment by moment basis and the brain signal activity causing symptoms is not continuous." - Professor Peter Brown Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat the difficulties in moving and involuntary shaking experienced by those living with advanced Parkinson's disease, although it is not suitable for all patients.