A/Prof David R Williams

Surgery for Parkinsons Disease

Is there any permanent nerve damage from treatment?

Unlike previous surgeries for PD, DBS does not damage healthy brain tissue by destroying nerve cells.  Instead the procedure blocks electrical signals from targeted areas in the brain.  Thus, if newer, more promising treatments develop in the future, the DBS procedure can be reversed.  Also, stimulation from the neurostimulator is easily adjustable without further surgery, if the patients condition changes.  Some people describe the stimulator adjustments as "programming."

 
Text Box: What is Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease? Is there any permanent nerve damage from treatment? What is the prognosis? What research is being done? Where do I get more information? Text Box: Clink here for link to neurosurgeon Dr Richard Bittar

Click here for

www.DBS-STN.org

 

DBS information from the

Parkinsons Alliance

Worldwide Education & Awareness

for Movement Disorders

deep brain stimulation