Parkinson’s, dystonia and disorders of movement are among the most disabling diseases. In Italy about two hundred thousand people suffer from Parkinson’s. As explained by Professor Alberto Albanese, Head of Neurology at Humanitas: “This disease tends to prefer some neurons, thus affecting in an elective way parts of the brain, on which we try to intervene primarily. It is less intrusive than the neurotransmitter dopamine, relevant to various conditions related to motility”. 

 

What treatments are available?

Today one of the possible solutions is a brain pacemaker implantation: “The pacemaker operates as an antenna that interferes with the subthalamic nucleus” says Prof. Albanese.

Before subjecting the patient to surgery in order to implant the electrodes into the deep brain nuclei, we need a fundamental analysis and clinical diagnostics. Dr. Piero Picozzi, Head of Gamma Knife Neurosurgery in Humanitas, explains that: “By using a stereo-tactic, a special device that serves as an external reference on the patient’s head, we can identify the subthalamic nucleus, which is where we want to put the catheter.”

 

How is the brain pacemaker implemented?

In the operating room there is a team effort among neurosurgeons, neurologists and neurophysiologists who find the right location in which to implant the electrode. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, to enable specialists to monitor the patient’s reactions. The implanted electrodes will be connected to a subcutaneous pacemaker which generates electrical impulses.

“This is a complementary therapy to drugs: usually neuro-stimulation is going to be approximately 60% due to drugs, eventually the patient reduces the pharmacotherapy,” says Prof. Albanese.

But not everyone can undergo this procedure: it is “an elective therapy, approximately 30% of patients can be candidated for this procedure”, concludes Professor Albanese.