Not everyone with Parkinson's is eligible for deep-brain stimulation, which has been available in the United States in various forms since the late 1990s. But the latest version of the $65,000 procedure, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Parkinson's in 2002, can offer patients significant relief of symptoms and less need for high doses of medicine to cope with one of the most common nervous-system disorders in older adults.
"These are the happiest patients I have," said Cozzens, chairman of SIU's neurosurgery division. "They're thrilled with the results. They get their life back."
Cozzens, 58, a Chicago-area native who was trained at Northwestern University's medical school, brought deep-brain stimulation to Springfield. He has performed about 300 of the procedures in his career, making him one of the most experienced practitioners in Illinois.
Deep-brain stimulation also can be used to treat chronic pain, and research is under way on its use in treating depression, Tourette syndrome, high blood pressure and even obsessive-compulsive disorder.
But the most proven benefits are in patients with Parkinson's and other movement disorders, Cozzens said. So at least for now, those are the only patients receiving the procedure in Springfield.
Deep-brain stimulation works by scrambling the abnormal brain signals that cause Parkinson's symptoms, but it hasn't been proven to halt the progression of the disease itself.
Because of the risk of infection, stroke and brain damage, deep-brain stimulation is considered only when medicine isn't working well to ease the tremors, limb stiffness, slow movement and coordination problems caused by Parkinson's, Elble said.
Elble, who works with Cozzens, said patients must be selected carefully.
"Some people who come to us have been misdiagnosed," Elble said. "Some people have never been given adequate trials of medicine."
About 20 percent of Parkinson's patients - often those younger than 60 or those whose primary symptoms are tremors - could benefit from deep-brain stimulation, Elble said.
But 90 percent of his patients have seen at least some improvement, and 80 percent have experienced major improvements, he said.
*What is it: A surgical procedure to treat a variety of disabling neurological symptoms, most commonly symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
*What happens during surgery: A battery-operated device similar to a heart pacemaker is surgically implanted to deliver electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement, blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremors and other Parkinson's symptoms. Patients don't feel the insertion of the electrode or the electrical current because nerve cells in brain tissue don't detect pain.
*Cost of the surgery: About $65,000. The procedure is covered by Medicare and Medicaid and is commonly covered by private insurance.
*Risks: Infection, allergic reaction, dizziness, speech or vision problems, stroke and other brain damage.
*About Parkinson's: 50,000 to 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's are diagnosed in the United States each year, and 1 million Americans have the disease, for which there is no cure. An estimated 20 percent of Parkinson's patients could benefit from deep-brain stimulation.
To learn more about How to Fight Parkinson's disease, we invite you to attend our educational conference on Monday, March 28th, 2011 at the Tampa Westshore Marriott in Tampa, Florida.
The conference is a unique educational opportunity for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, families, and caregivers to learn about the latest advances in PD research, medication and treatment innovations that greatly improve quality of life.
To learn more about the conference or the Parkinson Research Foundation, please visit us at http://parkinsonresearchfoundation.org/ As always please consult your physician before beginning a new health regimen. Thank you for your continued support.
References: http://www.behealthyspringfield.com/sections/local-news/brain-stimulation-new-treatment-for-many-parkinsons-sufferers
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