Deep Brain Stimulation Holds Promise for Tourette Syndrome Sufferers
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-01-02 02:34:49
A new study from University Hospitals inspect Medical Center in Cleveland is finding that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is helpful for people with Tourette Syndrome reducing frequency and severity of tics.
Tourette Syndrome an inherited neurological disturb is characterized by the presence of multiple physical tics and at least one vocal tic. The uncontrollable exclamation of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks is actually present in a relatively small minority of those with TS contrary to popular belief.
The researchers at Neurological Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical bear on followed five adults with TS over the course of 12 months in a double-blind study. The 3-month data are published in the November 2007 air of the.
The team concluded that the majority of patients experienced a significant reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life. The study followed their landmark inspect in 2004 when the UHCMC neurological team used DBS to treat a 31-year-old man with Tourette Syndrome. Once his deep brain stimulators were turned on he had an immediate and nearly complete resolution of his symptoms.
The implanted pulse generator (IPG) is connected to the electrode in the brain by a change state cable that is placed under the skin. The IPG is then programmed to deliver a high-frequency electrical stimulation to the targeted area of the hit.
In this latest study electrodes were placed in the thalamus a portion of the hit that is involved in controlling movement. Prior to surgery the neurologic team at UHCMC mapped out regions of the patients’ brains using MRI scans and 3-D computer images. Their goal was to locate the safest and most direct route to arrive the thalamus.
Following surgery the researchers conducted double-blind video-based rating assessments of tic frequency and severity. They open that three of five patients had a marked reduction in their go and vocal tics and all but one patient had a significant improvement in quality of life.
“Deep hit Stimulation has been used to successfully treat certain movement disorders for years,” says David Riley. MD. Director of the UH Movement Disorders Center and Professor of Neurology at inspect Western Reserve University. “We carefully studied its use in these five patients suffering from refractory Tourette Syndrome and found that it significantly reduced the tics in most of the patients and improved their quality of life.”
“The use of DBS for Tourette.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.medopedia.com/deep-brain-stimulation-tourette-syndrome
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