Sending electric signals into the brain could eliminate Parkinson's symptoms

The Guardian ^ | 18 Mar 2009 | Ian Sample

[BGHater]

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease in mice disappeared when their brains were stimulated via spinal electrodes

A ground-breaking medical device that eliminates the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by electrically stimulating the brain could be tested in humans as early as next year, according to scientists working on the project.

The device has produced dramatic improvements in mice with a Parkinson's-like disease, raising hopes that it could transform the lives of the four million people worldwide who have the devastating condition.

In tests, mice that suffered constant tremors and were barely able to walk because of the disease started moving around, groomed themselves and began eating and drinking normally when the device was switched on.

"If we see the same effect in people as we see in rodents, then Parkinson's patients will be able to walk and move around the way they could before the disease came on. This could lead to a very dramatic improvement in their quality of life," said Miguel Nicolelis, the neuroscientist who led the study at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Nicolelis is one of the world's leading researchers on "brain-machine interfaces". In recent years, he has developed brain implants that can read people's thoughts, allowing them to move cursors on a screen and even use artificial limbs. Such devices are expected to lead to a new generation of mind-controlled prosthetics for the severely disabled.

Nicolelis got the idea for the latest device after studying brain activty in mice that had been bred to develop a disease very similar to Parkinson's disease. In humans, Parkinson's disease occurs when neurons that produce a vital brain chemical called dopamine die off.

[A CA Guy]

They tried to send electrical teleprompter signals to Obama the other night and all he made was make special Olympic slams.

[Between the Lines]

My sister suffered from epileptic seizures her entire life and medicines were not able to control it. About five years ago she had a pacemaker implant with the electrodes leading to each side of her brain. She wears a special bracelet that activates the pacemaker which she swipes over the pacemaker when she feels a seizure coming on. Since having the implant she has had no serious seizures.

True story, but we do tease her a lot about having a pacemaker in her brain.

[SunkenCiv]

“...or, it could just make the shocked victim poop their pants and go into seizures. It needs further research.”