Deep brain stimulation: patient and doctor describe their experiences

10 February 2010

In last Sunday's Observer Magazine, chef Fergus Henderson recounted his experience of having deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. His neurosurgeon, Professor Narwan Hariz, also described the operation from his point of view.


What is deep brain stimulation?


Deep brain stimulation is a relatively new type of neurosurgery, which can be used to treat movement disorders including Parkinson's disease.

In deep brain stimulation, a device called a deep brain stimulator is inserted. This uses the same technology as heart pace makers, but sends rapid electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain. In order to treat tremor, the deep brain stimulator is inserted into the thalamus, in the very middle of the brain.

What is Parkinson's?


Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder, which is characterised by damage to an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. This area influences all voluntary movements.

A loss of dopamine in people with Parkinson’s disease means that the brain circuits that control movement stop working efficiently. Messages sent by the brain to the muscles do not pass through smoothly, and so ordinary movements like walking, getting up from a chair and putting on clothes become slow and difficult.

(It must be stressed that every person with Parkinson’s disease reacts differently and not everyone will necessarily experience all the possible symptoms.)

Find out more


Any questions?


Contact our neuroscience nurses for free, on the Brain and Spine Helpline.



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