Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that disrupts normal function and communication between brain cells. It gets worse over time and mostly affects older adults (and more men than women). Common symptoms are tremor, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement and stooped posture.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative condition (meaning it worsens gradually over time) that occurs when neurons in a region of your brain called the substantia nigra are destroyed. When this occurs, a chemical called dopamine that normally allows your body to make smooth, controlled movements is not released by the brain. PD is most common in men and women older than age 50 years, but it can develop in younger people as well. 

Many patients with Parkinson's dsease can benefit from neurosurgical treatment. BMC's Department of the Neurology will work with you and your family to effectively manage your condition and improve your quality of life. We will all work closely with you and your family both before and after a procedure to ensure a smooth transition and provide education on the options for surgical treatments and how they work. Although cure is not possible at this time, our goal is to reduce the severity of your symptoms and the side effects sometimes associated with medication.

Medication is helpful for some Parkinson's Disease patients, while neurosurgical treatment provides a better option for others, enabling medication dosage to be reduced and the severity of medication-related side effects to be diminished. Deep brain stimulation is the most common and most effective neurosurgical operation to treat a variety of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease. In this procedure, electrodes are placed deep into the brain and through tiny holes in the skull and connected to a power generator, which delivers electricity to the cells. The small generator is usually implanted under your skin beneath your collarbone. The electrical stimulation is often able to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease and decrease your reliance on medication.