Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders – A History of Success and Challenges to Conquer

Lars Wojtecki,Carlo Colosimo,Rómulo Fuentes

doi:10.3389/fnint.2012.00006

Abstract

Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders – A History of Success and Challenges to Conquer

Highlights

Up to date, tens of thousands patients have undergone implantation of deep brain stimulation electrodes – mainly for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, and Idiopathic Dystonia. Pizzolato and Mandat (2012) give a short and comprehensive review on the current status of deep brain stimulation for these movement disorders
In order to efficiently access and modulate the neural networks, many findings point into the direction that fiber tracts rather than nuclei might be the right target of choice – in PD, and in thalamic stimulation for essential tremor: some findings suggest that differential stimulation of fiber tracts can be crucial for modulation of distinct symptoms like tremor versus ataxia (Fasano et al, 2010a). (2)To disentangle the mechanisms of action of deep brain stimulation
As a result of disentangling the neuronal network codes, closed-loop devices (Rouse et al, 2011), that could provide stimulation “on demand,” will hopefully be a major step forward to improve these therapies. (4)To learn from the history of DBS in movement disorders

Summary

Introduction

Tens of thousands patients have undergone implantation of deep brain stimulation electrodes – mainly for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Essential Tremor, and Idiopathic Dystonia. Pizzolato and Mandat (2012) give a short and comprehensive review on the current status of deep brain stimulation for these movement disorders. We will have to conquer these challenges in order to understand and improve the technique – to transfer it to a successful therapy for other disorders especially in the neuro-psychiatric domain.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion