For those with not enough reading materials(!), neurologyreviews.com is an interesting website. In the January 2006 News Roundup section of the website, there’s an article about how deep brain stimulation in specific areas could help those with multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy.
A short blurb is copied below.
Robin
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www.neurologyreviews.com/jan06/newsroundup.html
Two studies in the November 28, 2005, NeuroReport demonstrated that the pedunculopontine nucleus can be targeted safely and effectively with deep brain stimulation without major surgical risks in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Low frequency (20 to 25 Hz) stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus improves postural stability and gait disturbance, including “on-medication” freezing. Furthermore, combined stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus and the pedunculopontine nucleus appears to be more valuable than stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus alone. “In theory, even patients with multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy could benefit [from this treatment]in fact, any patient with intractable locomotive and postural akinesia [could benefit],” reported the investigators.