Welcome
Download and Read Our Latest Survey Results
- Click here to download a summary of survey reports conducted by The Parkinson Alliance.
- Quality of Life and Attitude in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease with and without Deep Brain Stimulation.
Info discussed in Medical Community
> Get Your Copy of "Communication and Swallowing Disorders in Parkinson Disease". Numerous books have been written on various medical aspects of Parkinson's Disease. Until now, however, there has not been published a text which focuses specifically on the debilitating speech, cognitive-linguistic, and swallowing disorders associated with this disease.... read more
> Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, or mental disorders associated with nervous system dysfunction, are common features of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that affect a majority of patients with PD. Since these symptoms significantly impact patient quality of life and worsen the functional impairment already experienced in PD, researchers are concerned with developing better, more efficient ways of clinically approaching... read more
> Does Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) prevent progression of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or it only masks some of the symptoms of PD? Long term biochemical changes in the Parkinsonian brain with and without deep brain stimulation using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) ... read more
Current Science Review
Does depression prior to DBS surgery make a difference?
The exact relationships between DBS for PD and nonmotor symptoms are commonly unknown. Such is the case for depression. The purpose of this study was to look at postsurgical outcomes for people with Parkinson’s disease (PWP) who also had a history of depression prior to the surgery versus those without any depression.
Conferences and Special Events
UCLA's Dr. Allan Wu Discusses Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Upcoming Poster Presentation at the 2012 Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society
Get Your Copy of "Carson and His Shaky Paws Grampa"
On behalf of DBS-STN.org, I invite you to get involved.
DBS-STN.org is committed to helping improve the quality of life of DBS-STN patients and their caregivers. Through patient and caregiver surveys, we are not only asking questions but providing answers that will help the DBS-STN community. Please join us in coming together, discussing issues, and answering questions.
For your convenience, we've also added links to the latest health-related news stories.
Margaret Tuchman, Founder of DBS-STN.org, President of The Parkinson Alliance, and DBS-STN patient 12/00
Recipe for increasing awareness and knowledge about DBS therapy:
How can we do it better?
LSVT Global launches Online LSVT LOUD Training and Certification for speech clinicians
LSVT Global, Inc. introduces Online LSVT LOUD Training and Certification. Online LSVT LOUD is a comprehensive training in LSVT’s evidence-based LOUD treatment for people with neurological disorders including Parkinson Disease. Read more...
A Consensus Meeting to Discuss Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
On April 1st-3rd, 2009 The Parkinson Alliance (with shared sponsorship provided by the Davis Phinney Foundation, the LSVT Foundation, and the National Parkinson Foundation) convened a panel of the world’s experts on DBS for PD. The task assigned to these experts was not to craft a typical consensus statement for themselves, but to come up with a document aimed squarely at their true customers—the patients. These world leaders discussed the current matters related to DBS therapy and where we need to go with this intervention. The ultimate focus was on improving the effectiveness of the intervention and the quality of life of those individuals who have undergone or those who will choose to undergo DBS.
The topics of the Consensus Meeting were many and included patient selection, gait and speech DBS outcomes, non-motor DBS outcomes (mood and cognition) and long-term DBS outcomes, to name a few. The final report has been published and can be read by clicking on the following link:
Click on the link below for a full report on the DBS Consensus
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease: An Expert Consensus and Review of Key Issues
Jeff M. Bronstein; etal
Arch Neurol. Published online October 11, 2010. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.260
Also, at the conclusion of the Consensus Meeting, a group of PD patients with and without DBS was invited to an open forum where several clinician shared their experiences and answered the participants' questions. The summary describing the important dialogue between patients and clinicians about many of the commonly asked questions that exist in the PD community can be read by clicking on the following link:
View a written report of the Patient Forum that occurred at the Consensus Meeting.
Finding a DBS programmer be challenging but very important for the longterm care and maintenance of neurostimulator implants.
Find a DBS programmer in your area here: www.medtronicdbs.com/parkinsons/find-specialist/
Health News
Updated Oct 22nd, 2011