Healing of Parkinson’s via electrodes

CHENNAI: While surgical intervention has lost out to drugs as the preferred treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) in recent years, this option has seen a resurgence among those who have drug-induced abnormal movements, experts said here on Sunday.

Speaking at a neuro conclave organised in commemoration of Dr B Sarala and Prof P Narendran, considered pioneers in neuro sciences, Dr Mohan Sampath Kumar, head of department of neurology at SRM Medical College Hospital, said deep-brain stimulation has become the surgical procedure of choice for the disease, as it does not involve destruction of brain tissue.

He said in deep-brain stimulation, electrodes were connected to an ‘impulse generator’ that was usually implanted below the collar bone. Once activated, the device sends out continuous electrical pulses to target areas in brain and block impulses that cause tremors.

Dr K Gireesh, deputy dean of SRM Medical College Hospital, also spoke.