Largest ever brain surgery trial yields positive results for people with Parkinsons
29 April 2010
New evidence supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) has proved that deep brain stimulation (DBS), a type of brain surgery to treat Parkinson’s, can improve quality of life for some people with the condition more than medication alone.
The 10-year study, which is the largest of its kind in the world, compared the effects of DBS with the best drug therapy in 366 people with advanced Parkinson’s who were considered suitable for surgery. They were divided into two groups of those who received immediate surgery and medical therapy, and those who received just medication for a year.
After 12 months follow-up the researchers found:
- The surgery improves quality of life and motor function in patients with advanced Parkinson’s compared to those receiving medical therapy only
- On average, the people who had DBS found that their symptoms improved significantly, while those who received medication alone stayed the same
- The people who had DBS needed about a third (34 per cent) less medication, to control their symptoms than those who didn’t have the surgery
In deep brain stimulation signals from an electrical implant in the brain help reduce Parkinson’s symptoms, such as tremor and stiffness. This type of brain surgery can be an effective treatment option for up to 5 per cent of people with Parkinson's, in particular those whose symptoms are no longer adequately controlled by medication, and who have particular unwanted side effects. As with any major surgery, there is a risk of serious adverse events, so it is not suitable for everyone.
Professor Keith Wheatley from the University of Birmingham explains:
“This trial demonstrates a clear treatment benefit of surgery compared to the best available drug therapies after one year.
“The progress of the people in the trial will be followed for another five years. We will be looking at the long term effects of DBS, the impact of surgery on carers, the neuropsychological effects of surgery and the economics of using DBS therapy in the NHS. We will further analyse the data to attempt to identify who is most likely to benefit from DBS.”
Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“It’s clear from these results that deep brain stimulation works and for the majority of people with Parkinson’s who are suitable, it’s certainly more effective than medication alone. So for these people, it should be available when they need it.
Carol Pearl, 64, from London, has had Parkinson's for nine years and after experiencing awful side effects from medication, has the DBS operation. She says that DBS has transformed her life. Her symptoms are well under control, which means she can enjoy her hobbies again - dancing, aerobics, travelling, and her seven grandchildren.
The trial was co-ordinated by the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham and co-funded by Parkinson’s UK, the Medical Research Council and the Department of Health.
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