Adaptive deep brain stimulation in the news

The news comes as a technology called BrainSense™, made by a company called Medtronic, enables an adaptable form of deep brain stimulation (DBS). The technology is used by the Medtronic Percept DBS device, and has recently received a CE safety mark to say it passes European safety, health, and environmental standards.

BrainSense technology is also under investigation in an ongoing research study, ADAPT-PD, to see if it is more effective than the standard DBS that has been used for over 30 years. The US based study involves almost 70 people with Parkinson’s and should finish later this year.

While this research continues, the BrainSense technology is starting to be used in just 4 places across the globe - including Newcastle and Bristol. This is not a UK wide rollout and will be carefully monitored.

What is DBS and adaptable DBS?

Current DBS provides electrical stimulation to brain areas to help control movement symptoms in Parkinson’s. DBS involves surgery, where a pulse generator (a device like a heart pacemaker) is placed under the skin around the chest or stomach area. It’s connected to 1 or 2 fine wires that are inserted into specific areas of the brain. When the pulse generator is switched on, the electrodes deliver constant, high-frequency stimulation to the targeted area. This stimulation changes some of the electrical signals in the brain that cause the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s. The stimulation can be turned on or off but its amount doesn’t vary.

The more adaptable form of DBS is where the BrainSense technology can sense the brain activity of the individual and vary the levels of stimulation. So far it’s showing promise to respond to the movement needs of the individuals in real time.

Kevin’s experience

Kevin, a person with Parkinson’s in Sunderland, was one of the first people to experience the BrainSense technology. He had standard DBS following his diagnosis in 2017, which involved regular visits to the hospital for the DBS signals to be adjusted depending on his needs. Now, with the BrainSense technology, he will need fewer visits as the signals can be adjusted to his needs in real time.

Kevin’s experience shows the potential this adaptive form of DBS could have for people with Parkinson’s and compliments the positive results from a study comparing the adaptive form of DBS to the standard form back in August 2024. 

You can read Kevin’s experience of adaptive DBS on BBC news.

What does this mean for people with Parkinson’s?

Dr Becky Jones, Research Communications Manager at Parkinson’s UK, comments:

“Current DBS can be life changing and has the promise to be even more effective if it could be responsive to the needs of the individual. BrainSense represents a major step towards this.

"While evidence is still being gathered to assess the benefits of adaptive DBS versus the standard type, it's great to see movement towards this becoming a new, more effective treatment for people with Parkinson's.

“It is important to note that DBS won’t be right for everyone. It involves invasive surgery, and isn’t suitable for people who experience some specific symptoms of Parkinson’s such as thinking and memory changes. So this new form of adaptive DBS will still only be relevant to a specific group of people with Parkinson’s. We recommend speaking with your healthcare team to find out if this is something that could be right for you.”