Deep Brain Stimulation: Expanding Applications

Abstract

For over two decades, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown significant efficacy in treatment for refractory cases of dyskinesia, specifically in cases of Parkinson's disease and dystonia. DBS offers potential alleviation from symptoms through a well-tolerated procedure that allows personalized modulation of targeted neuroanatomical regions and related circuitries. For clinicians contending with how to provide patients with meaningful alleviation from often debilitating intractable disorders, DBSs titratability and reversibility make it an attractive treatment option for indications ranging from traumatic brain injury to progressive epileptic supra-synchrony. The expansion of our collective knowledge of pathologic brain circuitries, as well as advances in imaging capabilities, electrophysiology techniques, and material sciences have contributed to the expanding application of DBS. This review will examine the potential efficacy of DBS for neurologic and psychiatric disorders currently under clinical investigation and will summarize findings from recent animal models.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spasticity: Historical Approaches, Current Status, and Future Directions

“…As a result, this separates SCS in form and function from deep brain stimulation (DBS), because the electrodes in DBS are placed within the brain parenchyma. While DBS has become a standard of care for some movement disorders such as essential tremor , the use of SCS for motor dysfunctions is nearly non‐existent.…”

Making Waves in the Brain: What Are Oscillations, and Why Modulating Them Makes Sense for Brain Injury

“…There is both growing evidence and excitement that neuromodulation, and specifically invasive electrical neurostimulation, can be used to improve function in patients with neurological disorders (Lozano and Lipsman, 2013 ; Suthana and Fried, 2014 ; Tekriwal and Baltuch, 2015 ). In the case of TBI it is clear that functional consequences can be severe and persist for many years after the insult (Jennett et al, 1981 ; Whiteneck et al, 2004 ; DeKosky et al, 2010 ; Ponsford et al, 2014 ).…”

Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation for Dystonia: Current State and Ethical Considerations

“…Refractory symptoms of dystonia can be severe and potentially life threatening. 26,27 For example, uncontrolled muscular contractions can interfere with everyday purposeful movements. Children can also experience difficulty feeding, swallowing, breathing, and communicating.…”