peg,
DBS technology is evolving and i assume more people will benefit and with the history of great phase1 results and negative phase2 results in novel pd clinical trials, spheramine included, DBS, dupdopa, apomorphine pump and maybe the l-dopa patch pump may be the only treatments us old folks will be able to use when drugs aren't enough.

hoping for some positive results from stem cells - trials scheduled in 2014 - gene therapy, european fetal transplants, and there is this quirky pig cell implant in new zealand LIFE CELL TECHNOLGY (?) where they have operated on 1 patient, 3 more scheduled. kind of like spheramine but cells don't excrete dopamine but growth factors kind of like BDNF, GDNF, etc. that "rescue" neurons.

keep in mind that some of the fetal transplants in the 80's/90's reversed symptoms and the affect was long lasting. but you never see a discussion of this technology. i'm sure very controversial.