 |
 |
PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS from Viartis 24th March 2009 - New research THE DISCOVERY OF HOW DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION AFFECTS PARKINSON'S DISEASE Science [2009] Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print] (Gradinaru V, Mogri M, Thompson KR, Henderson JM, Deisseroth K.) Complete abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a method of treating Parkinson's Disease that involves the use of electrodes that are implanted into the brain and connected to a small electrical device that can be externally programmed. DBS is able to reduce the need for Parkinson's Disease drugs. For more information go to Deep brain stimulation. It has always been uncertain as to how DBS has such a strong effect on Parkinson's Disease. Researchers used light to illuminate how the treatment works. They had suspected that brain cells are stimulated or calmed, leading to reduced Parkinson's Disease symptoms. Yet when they tried every type of brain cell they found that DBS had no direct effect on them. It was instead found that the effect occurs, not by stimulating cells, but by stimulating axons. Axons are what connect nerve cells to other nerve cells, as can be seen in the diagram. Axons can be more than a metre (several feet) in length. For more information go to Axons. For more information go to the complete News report. The effect of artificially stimulating brain cells can wear off in time, but so can artificially stimulating axons as it is now known occurs with DBS. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn