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In an article today in the San Antonio Express-News, a new theory was presented on why DBS works on the brain to relieve symptoms. >Charles Wilson, a professor of neurobiology at >the ><http://www.mysanantonio.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=life%2Fhealth&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22University+of+Texas+at+San+Antonio%22>University >of Texas at San Antonio, studies the part of the brain affected by Parkinson's. > >Using some complicated mathematics to predict >how brain signals should normally ebb and flow >in the brain, he argues that the problem in >Parkinson's is that brain cells are a little too harmonious with one another. > >“One of the things we know for sure about >Parkinson's is that neurons that normally are >firing independently of each other in the basal >ganglia (the part of the brain that controls >movement) start to become correlated,” Wilson >said. Shooting electrical pulses into the brain >at a particular rate and frequency breaks up >that synchronized behavior and eases symptoms, he said. > > >Read more: ><http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Theory-is-offeredon-brain-treatment-1466834.php#ixzz1SCwuzq2Y>http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Theory-is-offeredon-brain-treatment-1466834.php#ixzz1SCwuzq2Y > According to conventional theory DBS shouldn't work but exacerbate the symptoms. >“We have been practicing deep brain stimulation >now for over a decade literally without >knowing what we're doing,” said Dr. ><http://www.mysanantonio.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=life%2Fhealth&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Michele+Tagliati%22>Michele >Tagliati, director of the movement disorders >program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los >Angeles, who wasn't involved in the research but >praised the study. “We know we're doing right if >the patient gets better, but not everybody >responds. Knowing the methods of action better >might allow us to adapt strategies to difficult patients.” > >Read more: ><http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Theory-is-offeredon-brain-treatment-1466834.php#ixzz1SCxqpcAL>http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Theory-is-offeredon-brain-treatment-1466834.php#ixzz1SCxqpcAL > John Cottingham ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn