- 1. Parkinson's disease
- 2. Alzheimer's dementia
- 3. Depression and OCD
- 4. Movement disorders
- 5. Epilepsy
- 6. Eating disorders
- 7. Addictions and addictions
- Price of deep brain stimulation
- Other benefits
Deep brain stimulation, also known as cerebral pacemaker or DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation , is a surgical procedure in which a small electrode is implanted to stimulate specific regions of the brain.
This electrode is connected to a neurostimulator, which is a kind of battery, which is implanted under the scalp or in the region of the clavicle.
This surgery, which is performed by the neurosurgeon, has caused improvement in many neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, epilepsy and some psychiatric diseases, such as depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but it is only indicated for cases where there was no improves with medication use.
The main diseases that can be treated are:
1. Parkinson's disease
The electrical impulses of this technique stimulate regions in the brain, such as the subthalamic nucleus, which help to control movements and improve symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and difficulty walking and, for this reason, Parkinson's disease is the disease most treated by stimulation surgery. deep brain.
Patients who undergo this therapy can also benefit from improved sleep, the ability to swallow food and smell, functions that are impaired in the disease. In addition, it is possible to decrease the dose of the medications used and avoid its side effects.
2. Alzheimer's dementia
Deep brain stimulation surgery has also been tested and used to try to regress Alzheimer's symptoms, such as forgetfulness, difficulty thinking and behavioral changes.
In the initial results, it has already been observed that the disease remains stationary for a longer time and, in some people, it was possible to notice its regression, due to better results presented in the reasoning tests.
3. Depression and OCD
This technique has already been tested for the treatment of severe depression, which does not improve with the use of drugs, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy, and the region of the brain responsible for improving mood can be stimulated, which reduces symptoms in most patients. who have already done this therapy.
In some cases, with this treatment, it is also possible to decrease the compulsive and repetitive behavior that exists in OCD, in addition to being a promise to reduce the aggressive behavior of some people.
4. Movement disorders
Diseases that cause movement changes and cause involuntary movements, such as essential tremor and dystonia, for example, show excellent results with deep brain stimulation, as, as in Parkinson's, regions of the brain are stimulated so that there is control of movements, in people who do not improve with the use of medications.
Thus, one can already notice the improvement in the quality of life of many people who have undergone this therapy, mainly by allowing them to walk more easily, control their voice and be able to perform some activities that were no longer possible.
5. Epilepsy
Although the region of the brain affected by epilepsy varies according to its type, it has already been shown to decrease the frequency of seizures in people who have undergone therapy, which makes treatment easier and reduces the complications of people who suffer from it disease.
6. Eating disorders
The implantation of the neurostimulator device in the region of the brain responsible for appetite, can treat and reduce the effects of eating disorders, such as obesity, due to lack of appetite control, and anorexia, in which the person stops eating.
Thus, in cases where there is no improvement with treatment with drugs or psychotherapy, deep stimulation therapy is an alternative that promises to help in the treatment of these people.
7. Addictions and addictions
Deep brain stimulation seems to be a good promise for the treatment of people who are addicted to chemicals, such as illicit drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, which can reduce addiction and prevent it.
Price of deep brain stimulation
This surgery requires expensive material and a very specialized medical team, which can cost around R $ 100, 000.00, depending on the hospital performed. Some selected cases, when sent to hospitals where this technique is available, can be performed by SUS.
Other benefits
This therapy can also bring improvements to the recovery of people who have suffered from a stroke, which can reduce the sequelae, relieve chronic pain and even help in the treatment of La Tourette syndrome, in which the person has uncontrollable motor and vocal tics.
In Brazil, this type of surgery is only available in large hospitals, especially in capitals or large cities, where neurosurgery centers are equipped. As it is an expensive and barely available procedure, this therapy has been reserved for people with serious illnesses who do not respond to treatment with drugs.
