I don't like to be the rain on the parade and sorry for appearing a cynic. But this study was sponsored by Medtronic. Below is the disclosure from the full text.

This disclosure was sent around the pipeliner email list along with some very astute comments about the placebo effect. I can't take credit for this post - I'm just the messenger.

Placebo effect was a major issue in the GDNF arguments, with claims by researchers that it could last for years. Wouldn't someone with a DBS possibly have a placebo effect? What excludes DBS from the placebo effect?

DBS may save my life someday, but I've learned, sadly, that trust in what you read may not be earned or deserved. This attitude may be viewed as taking away hope. But I see it as improving the quality of what is done. In other words, reality gives me hope. And the reality of this treatment may be exactly what they are claiming.


DBS study.
> Here they are from the full text article.
>
> "Dr. Schüpbach was supported by grants from the
> Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss PD
> Association. The study was supported by Medtronic
> Europe.
> Disclosure: Medtronic sponsored the study and
> provided the stimulators. However, Medtronic had no
> influence on decisions concerning the study design;
> on the enrollment of patients; on the collection,
> analysis, and interpretation of data; on the writing
> of the report; and on the decision to submit the
> paper for publication."
>

Paula