Non- surgical treatment for Parkinson disease

Non- surgical treatment for Parkinson disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. Its cardinal motor symptoms include tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesia, and postural instability. Brain stimulation is one of the fastest-growing neuroscience areas involving medical and bioengineering fields. Brain stimulation is inherently non-destructive, reversible, and, most importantly, adjustable. Whether invasive or non-invasive, the electrical intervention can modulate the nervous system function, leading to improved neurological symptoms and better quality of life. Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay treatment for patients with PD, and levodopa is the most effective drug for managing motor symptoms However, side effects such as dyskinesia and the on/off phenomenon have been associated with levodopa treatment. Moreover, its effectiveness has decreased over the years. Deep brain stimulation has been clinically useful in the treatment of PD at all stages, especially in those patients with motor symptoms only partly controlled by dopaminergic drugs, such as severe rest tremor or off-period dystonia, and motor fluctuations. However, many DBS issues remain challenging, for instance, choosing a suitable stimulation target to maximize clinical outcomes, while minimizing side effects. As a highly heterogeneous disease, one DBS solution does not fit all patients. Non-surgical treatment for Parkinson disease is especially used for to cure tremors.