[soccertese]

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/...ND_BRAIN_.html

video shows before/after

[pegleg]

Soccerteser
I think when one with PD stays in an "off" mode much more often than "on," then DBS should be considered. This is especially true of tremor-dominate people with Parkinson's (PwP). It is so humbling to watch post-DBS patients react to their managed symptoms that they once thought were gon forever.

However, I shudder at the thinking of many sponsors desiring to do invasion of the brain (DBS - which is invasive surgery) BEFORE symptoms are bad. I just cannot okay that type of research. Where's the control? How do they know if the patient improved because of the surgery, or if it was placebo effect (which is why many medication trials have failed)?

[soccertese]

peg,
just planned to be the messenger and not to discuss dbs
dbs is one topic i don't investigate since with my metal allergies i've always assumed i couldn't get one, allergic to silver and gold.
but off the top of my head, i make the following assumptions:
1. dbs can be as effective as current meds.
2. even in moderate pd, i can think of situations where dbs would be very attractive, in jobs where you can't afford to be "off" or you lead a lifestyle where you wouldn't want to be off, a mother with young kids, have to take care of a spouse and don't have easy access to 911 or anyone else - can't wait for sinemet to kick in in an emergency at 2AM, and in all these cases can't tolerate agonists. just thinking off the top of my head. have to assume insurance companies would ask some tough questions before approving.

could be totally off base.