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Deep Brain Stimulation: Brain Pacemakers

Deep Brain Stimulation: Brain Pacemakers. Kaitlin Abbate. What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)?. Surgical treatment involving placement of brain pacemaker into the brain Sends electrical impulses to various places in the brain

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Deep Brain Stimulation: Brain Pacemakers

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  1. Deep Brain Stimulation:Brain Pacemakers Kaitlin Abbate

  2. What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)? • Surgical treatment involving placement of brain pacemaker into the brain • Sends electrical impulses to various places in the brain • Changes the brain activity that was previously happening so it becomes more normal

  3. Components of the Pacemaker • Implanted Pulse generator (IPG) • Encased in titanium • Sends impulses to area of brain to interfere with neural activity • Generally placed near clavicle • Extension • Connects leads to IPG • Runs from head, down neck, behind ear, and to IPG in chest • Leads • Coiled wire insulated in polyurethane with four platinum electrodes • Lead to the specific targeted site of brain

  4. The Pacemaker

  5. What does it treat? • Many movement disorders • Tremor • Dystonia • Parkinson’s disease • Tourette syndrome • Also, affective disorders • Major Depression • Chronic pain • However, it is not anywhere near 100% effective yet for any of the above disorders

  6. For Parkinson’s Disease • Tremor, rigidity, postural instability • Controls symptoms so medication is not needed anymore • Mostly targets subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus inerna • parts of brain where tremors generally occur • Pacemaker intended to stop tremor before it begins and control the brain activity

  7. Major Depression • No evidence to support the idea that DBS helps depression • However, there was a study with 6 patients • Implanted electrodes into frontal cortex of brain • When current turned on, 4 out of 6 patients reported “black cloud lifting” and were more alert • Patients were previously resistant to meds and psychotherapy

  8. Complications/Side Effects • Most common side effects (may only be temporary): • Apathy • Hallucinations • Compulsive gambling • Hypersexuality • Brain shifts during surgery • Potential for electrodes to be displaced • Can lead to personality changes

  9. So, is it worth it? • Well, no one is really sure that pacemaker actually works • Placebo Effect possibly • Very different from heart pacemaker • Heart pacemaker either works or doesn’t • Brain is more complex in the way that it is more prone to a lot of change especially with age • In conclusion, there is a lot of controversy • Mostly ethical reasons

  10. Sources • "Brain Pacemaker at AllExperts." Expert Archive Questions. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. <http://en.allexperts.com/e/b/br/brain_pacemaker.htm>. • "Deep Brain Stimulation." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation>. • Stein, Rob. "The Potential of 'Brain Pacemakers'" Washington Post (2004). Print.

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