Bhubaneswar:15 July 2026( Pratyusha Bureau )Understanding Parkinson’s Disease: Advances in Treatment and Deep Brain StimulationParkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, makingit the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s. In India, the prevalenceof Parkinson’s disease is estimated to range between 15 and 43 cases per lakh population. As lifeexpectancy continues to rise, the number of people with Parkinson’s disease is also expected toincrease, leading to greater social and economic burdens. Even more concerning is the growingnumber of younger people being diagnosed with the disease.Parkinson’s disease primarily affects the brain’s ability to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitterthat helps control movement. While the exact cause of Parkinson’s is still unknown, experts believeit is a result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.Symptoms of Parkinson’s DiseaseThe symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be divided into motor and non-motor types.Motor Symptoms: These include tremors (shaking) at rest, slowness in movement, stiffness,difficulty walking, and changes in speech and handwriting.Non-Motor Symptoms: These include constipation, loss of smell, sleep disturbances,memory problems, urinary issues, blood pressure fluctuations, and pain.Though there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, several treatments are available to help managesymptoms and improve the quality of life for patients.The Role of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)For many people with Parkinson’s, medications can manage symptoms in the early stages. However,as the disease progresses, medications may become less effective. In such cases, a surgicaltreatment known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) offers hope.DBS has been used for over 30 years and has shown remarkable results in improving the quality oflife for patients. It involves implanting electrodes into specific parts of the brain and connectingthem to a small device in the chest, which delivers electrical impulses to normalize brain activity.This treatment helps control symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and motor fluctuations.Dr. Rupam Borgohain, a leading neurologist and course director of the Parkinson’s Disease andMovement Disorder Research Centre at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad, explains, “DBS hasconsistently shown superior results in patients whose symptoms no longer respond well tomedications. It offers long-term benefits and allows us to adjust treatment as the disease evolves.”DBS vs. MRgFUS: A ComparisonWhile DBS remains the gold standard for treating Parkinson’s through surgery, another non-invasivetechnique called Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) is gaining attention.MRgFUS uses MRI to guide ultrasound waves to create lesions in the brain to treat tremors. Whileit’s non-invasive, it has its limitations.Bilateral Capability: DBS can treat both sides of the brain, which is beneficial forpatients with symptoms affecting both limbs.Adjustability: DBS is programmable, meaning doctors can fine-tune the treatment assymptoms change over time.Reversibility: If necessary, the effects of DBS can be adjusted or turned off, unlikeMRgFUS, which involves permanent brain lesions.Comprehensive Symptom Control: DBS can manage tremors, slowness, stiffness,and motor fluctuations, while MRgFUS mainly targets tremors.MRgFUS Limitations:。 Irreversibility: Once MRgFUS creates a lesion in the brain, it can’t be undone.Limited Candidates: MRgFUS is typically only suitable for people who aren’tcandidates for surgery.Shorter Track Record: While DBS has decades of research supporting its long-termsafety and effectiveness, MRgFUS is still relatively new.Awareness and Access to TreatmentDespite the proven success of DBS, Dr. Borgohain and his team Dr Rukmini Mridula, Dr RajeshAlugolu and Dr Sruthi Kola have found that many patients and even doctors are unaware of itspotential. He emphasizes that educating both the public and healthcare providers is crucial forensuring that people with Parkinson’s disease get the treatment they need to live a full life.”DBS can significantly improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients, offering them not just symptomrelief, but independence, dignity, and a better quality of life,” says Dr. Borgohain.It’s important to spread awareness about the condition and the treatments available. Whetherthrough medication, surgery, or therapies like DBS, with the right care, individuals with Parkinson’sdisease can live better, more fulfilling lives.Adjustability: DBS is programmable, meaning doctors can fine-tune the treatment assymptoms change over time.Reversibility: If necessary, the effects of DBS can be adjusted or turned off, unlikeMRgFUS, which involves permanent brain lesions.Comprehensive Symptom Control: DBS can manage tremors, slowness, stiffness,and motor fluctuations, while MRgFUS mainly targets tremors.MRgFUS Limitations:。 Irreversibility: Once MRgFUS creates a lesion in the brain, it can’t be undone.Limited Candidates: MRgFUS is typically only suitable for people who aren’tcandidates for surgery.Shorter Track Record: While DBS has decades of research supporting its long-termsafety and effectiveness, MRgFUS is still relatively new.Awareness and Access to TreatmentDespite the proven success of DBS, Dr. Borgohain and his team Dr Rukmini Mridula, Dr RajeshAlugolu and Dr Sruthi Kola have found that many patients and even doctors are unaware of itspotential. He emphasizes that educating both the public and healthcare providers is crucial forensuring that people with Parkinson’s disease get the treatment they need to live a full life.”DBS can significantly improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients, offering them not just symptomrelief, but independence, dignity, and a better quality of life,” says Dr. Borgohain.It’s important to spread awareness about the condition and the treatments available. Whetherthrough medication, surgery, or therapies like DBS, with the right care, individuals with Parkinson’sdisease can live better, more fulfilling lives.
