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More than 1.5 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S.

While the disorder tends to be more common in older people, it drastically changed one woman’s life before her 40th birthday.

A new treatment is now offering relief.

Driving, pouring coffee, and flipping through a book, all simple things we take for granted, became a big challenge for Resa King.

Resa said, “For me, it was really intolerable. I couldn’t really walk because people thought I was drunk.”

At just 39, Resa got the news. her constant shaking and inability to control her own movements was an early onset of Parkinson’s Disease. Medicine initially offered relief, but the side effects became just as debilitating.

Resa said, “You take the medication four times a day, so you go through this valley, rising four times a day.”

Desperate for relief, Resa tried deep brain stimulation or DBS.

Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart, MD, MSE, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Director, Stanford Movement Disorders Center at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics.

Dr. Bronte-Stewart said, “The advantage of deep brain stimulation is that you don’t take anything by mouth, so it’s ‘on’ all the time, so the patients don’t go into ‘on’ periods and ‘off’ periods.”

Stanford doctors implanted a pacemaker-like device into Resa’s chest. Wire from there went into Resa’s brain, sending out pulses of electricity that help ease the uncontrolled movements. like any brain surgery, there’s a risk of infection and hemorrhaging. but after DBS, patients often experience less stiffness and tremors. most are able to cut the medications in half.

Dr. Bronte-Stewart said, “That translates into being able to walk faster, take bigger strides, and have a more predictable lifestyle.”

While DBS did not erase all of Resa’s symptoms, her close friends saw a change immediately. And for Resa, those everyday tasks became that much more bearable.

Resa said, “Now, people come up to me and say, ‘You’re doing so much better.’ I say, ‘Does it really show that much?’ they say, ‘Oh yeah, it shows.’”

The therapy typically works best in the mid-stages of the disease and does not help patients with speech or cognition problems.

This surgery is being done locally.

A few years back I took you inside the operating room with neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Yount for the procedure.

If you would like to see that story, click here.

TOPIC: SHOCKING THE SHAKES FROM PARKINSON’SREPORT: MB #3265

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disorder of the brain that causes individuals to experience tremors and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination. the disorder may affect one or both sides of the body. according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there is no cure for PD, but a variety of medications and therapies can provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. One such treatment is deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS is a surgical procedure used to treat a variety of disabling neurological symptoms, but it’s commonly used to treat PD patients. in 2002, DBS was FDA-approved to treat Parkinson’s.

TREATMENT: During DBS, a thin lead containing electrode contacts is implanted into a specific target area in the brain. the lead extends through a small opening in the skull below the skin and is connected to an extension wire with a connection behind the ear. the wire is connected to an impulse generator that is implanted under the skin just below the collarbone. Once the system is in place, electrical impulses are sent from the neurostimulator up along the extension wire and the lead and into the brain. These impulses block the electrical signals that cause PD symptoms. Programming of the stimulation is easy and painless using an external magnetic control box. the patient is left awake during the surgery (which typically lasts two to three hours). on average, the hospital stay is 24 hours. the stimulators are turned on for the first time three weeks after implantation. (SOURCE: University of Miami)

PROGNOSIS: at present, DBS is used only for patients whose PD symptoms cannot be adequately controlled with medications. DBS specifically helps treat tremors, rigidity, stiffness, slowed movement, and walking problems. although most patients still need to take medication after undergoing DBS, many experience a significant reduction of their PD symptoms and are able to reduce their medications. the amount of reduction varies from patient to patient. the reduction in dose of medication leads to a significant improvement in side effects such as dyskinesias (involuntary movements caused by long-term use of levodopa). in some cases, the stimulation itself can suppress dyskinesias without a reduction in medication. (SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Stanford Hospitals & Clinics Movement Disorders Center(650) 723-6469