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I think it's important to distinguish that DBS as a technique is used for a lot of different neural conditions, with varying degrees of supporting evidence. As
by DoingIsLearning 7y ago
I think it's important to distinguish that DBS as a technique is used for a lot of different neural conditions, with varying degrees of supporting evidence.
As an example DBS for severe cases of epilepsy is actually extremely targeted to specific brain areas and resolves seizures for patients who often have really high morbility.
To taint DBS completely as an intervention because of a side effect when treating Parkinson's seems knee jerking. Realistically there is still a lot about Parkinson pathophysiology that is still being discovered.
- comex 7y agoI don’t know if I’d say the article is trying to ‘taint’ it. According to the article, even the nine patients who had their swimming ability affected all “preferred to keep their stimulators on, because they provided so much relief from symptoms”. So it’s definitely an effective intervention in this case, just one with a side effect to watch out for. A side effect which is also unusual enough that it makes for an interesting news story. Edit: I guess you might have gotten that impression from the headline, which is a little clickbaity.