Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease – from the nerve cells to the patients

Prof. Dr. Jochen Roeper, Institute for Neurophysiologiy
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hilker, Clinic for Neurology
PD Dr. Thomas Gasser, Clinic and Policlinic for Neurosurgery
on November 24, 2008

The lecture is available as Podcast/MP3
Prof. Roeper (Internet Explorer | Flash), PD Gasser (MP3) und Prof. Hilker (Internet Explorer | Flash)

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in humans. In Germany alone, 250 000 mostly older people are affected. Typical symptoms are uncontrolled shaking, muscle stiffness and diminished movement. One treatment method used successfully for a number of years is “deep brain stimulation” (DBS), where patients receive an impulse generator, known as a brain pacemaker. This involves implanting electrodes in the region of the brain where the neuron groups important for movement control are located. As a result of the altered electric activity of the stimulated nerve cells, movement dysfunction can be reduced. In the three-part lecture “Deep cell stimulation in Parkinson’s disease – from the nerve cells to the patients”, Prof. Jochen Roeper, head of the Department of Neurophysiology at the Neuroscience Center of the Frankfurt University Clinic, explained the neurophysiological basis of DBS. The neurosurgical strategies of surgically implanting DBS electrodes was the theme of the talk by PD Dr. Thomas Gasser, senior physician at the Clinic for Neurosurgery at the Frankfurt University Clinic and head of the section for Functional Neurosurgery. Prof. Rüdiger Hilker, senior physician at the Clinic for Neurosurgery at the Frankfurt University Clinic, described the clinical-neurological care of DBS patients.