Parkinson's And Brain Stimulation: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, July 30 and November 19, 2005
Show 220

"I get very depressed when I can't even hold a glass of water without spilling it," says Parkinson's sufferer Stephen Tarence. Parkinson's is a degenerative disease that affects the motor system.

"This disease usually strikes in middle age," says Dr. Blair Ford, Medical Director at the Center for Movement Disorders Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center. In its early stages, Parkinson's presents as a tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement. Patients can take drugs such as Levodopa™ that treat the deficiency of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain which affects motor skills.

"Levodopa™ does best in the early stages," says Dr. Stanley Fahn, Director of the Center for Parkinson's Disease at Columbia University. Now, a revolutionary surgery, deep brain stimulation, can help control advanced tremors. A tiny electrode is implanted in the brain and connected by wire to a battery in the chest.

"Stimulation gives electronic dopamine to the brain," says Dr. Fahn. "Symptoms can be reduced and sometimes even abolished. It's not a cure, but it can control tremors for a long time," says Dr. Ford.

Stephen has undergone this surgery for his right hand which now is tremor-free. "Gaining control of my Parkinson's means gaining control of my life," he says.