How effective is Deep Brain Stimulation?
In properly selected patients, deep brain stimulation is remarkably safe and effective, although the surgery is not completely without risk. Beneficial effects have been demonstrated to last for several years. DBS in patients who initially responded well to medications, but over time have developed side effects, can experience between 50 to 80 percent improvement in such symptoms as tremor and slowness of movement with the stimulator. Patients on average report a 50 percent improvement in their walking. Similarly, patients with involuntary movements (dyskinesia) due to their medications, experience over 80 percent reduction in their severity. Some patients may be able to reduce their medications following deep brain stimulation. Regarding Parkinson’s disease in particular, an important indicator of the effectiveness of any treatment is the duration of “on-time” without dyskinesia. This means the patient is mobile and can perform everyday tasks without experiencing the involuntary movem
