In the United States, an estimated 42 million people suffer
from some form of movement disorder. Common movement disorders include
Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), and dystonia. Although
medications may be helpful for these conditions, in many patients,
symptoms cannot be controlled with medications alone. In such
situations, their physicians may recommend a surgical procedure known as
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS is a revolutionary technology using
an implanted device to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain to
help symptoms, alleviate suffering, and improve quality of life. The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved DBS as a treatment for
essential tremor in 1997, for Parkinson's disease in 2002, and dystonia
in 2003.

Deep brain stimulation has dramatically changed the
lives of many patients with uncontrollable tremors. Patients often can
resume normal activities, such as feeding and dressing themselves, and
can have active and fulfilling lives. The need for anti-tremor
medications is often reduced or eliminated.

Though it's no longer
considered experimental, DBS is, for now, still used as a second- or
third-line treatment, reserved for patients with more advanced cases of
the disease and those for whom medication alone is inadequate or can't
be adjusted precisely enough to keep their tremors and writhing under
control.

However the idea of this surgery being a "last resort"
is an evolving concept. Ten years ago doctors were operating on only the
most severe, disabled, wheelchair-dependent patients, now they are
operating on patients with moderate-to-severe cases of PD, ET and
Dystonia. The thought is that this trend will continue. Instead of
saying "wait another five to ten years until you become more disabled"
doctors are realizing that the earlier they use DBS, the more they can
improve the quality of life of their patients.