2023-12-07 17:41:51
Neuroprosthesis offers hope for Parkinson’s patients suffering from loss of movement, according to the latest issue of Nerd News. This groundbreaking technology has been found to help alleviate movement deficits and even restore the ability to walk in late-stage Parkinson’s disease patients who are resistant to current therapies.
In a recent study, researchers tested a neuroprosthesis in both non-human primate models and a 62-year-old man with a 30-year history of Parkinson’s disease. The results were promising, with the neuroprosthesis effectively counteracting Parkinson’s-related loss of movement and improving balance and gait in the human subject.
Furthermore, the researchers discovered a connection between the subthalamic nucleus, deep brain stimulation, and the brain’s emotional system, which is directly linked to aversion and can lead to depression in humans. This finding could provide valuable insights into the psychiatric symptoms experienced by some Parkinson’s patients undergoing deep brain stimulation treatment.
The study’s lead author, Åsa Mackenzie, commented on the significance of the findings: “That the subthalamus produces aversion and avoidance behavior is an important finding for two main reasons. It expands our understanding of the brain’s emotional system and how brain activity can lead to psychiatric symptoms such as depression and apathy.”
The connection between the subthalamic nucleus and aversion may also explain the occurrence of severe depression as a side effect in some Parkinson’s patients undergoing deep brain stimulation treatment. Understanding this neurobiological link could lead to better treatment options and improved outcomes for these patients in the future.
For more information on these groundbreaking developments in Parkinson’s research, readers can access the full articles in this issue of Nerd News.]
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