Learn about DBS | Udall Center of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research

What is Deep Brain Stimulation?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a kind of brain surgery that can treat the symptoms of

Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

How does it work?

DBS is usually done in 2 different surgeries. In the first, the surgeon places small, thin wires called electrodes deep into the part of the brain that controls movement. In the second surgery, a pacemaker-like device called an implanted pulse generator (IPG) is placed under the skin of the chest and connected to the electrodes under the skin. By adjusting the IPG to give different kinds of stimulations, we can find the stimulation that works best to improve a patient's symptoms.

The videos and information below provide more background on DBS and the potential benefits to the procedure.

DBS Animation by Dr. Noam Harel and Colleagues

Dr. Jerrold Vitek and Dr. Michael Park describe how DBS is performed and the relief it provides to Parkinson's disease patients

Research-To-Practice Milestones in Neurotechnology

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