A ‘Pacemaker’ for the Brain…Reducing Seizures by as Much as 50%…and Depression up to 30%

A ‘Pacemaker’ for the Brain…Reducing Seizures by as Much as 50%…and Depression up to 30% | October 7, 2021

Some people know Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for epilepsy, reducing seizures by as much as 50 percent.

It’s designed for the considerable number of patients suffering from medically refractory epilepsy who are not candidates for resective brain surgery.

This tiny pacemaker-like device, is implanted in the brain to deliver a small amount of electricity when it detects the onset of a seizure.

But, what most people DON’T know know is that Deep Brain Stimulation, can help depression by up to 30 per cent.

“One person’s depression might look very different from another person’s depression,” said Dr. Katherine Scangos, an assistant professor of psychiatry at U.C.S.F. and an author of a report about Sarah’s case, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. The senior authors were Dr. Andrew Krystal, an expert in neuro-modulation and mood disorders, and Dr. Edward Chang, whose work includes brain implants for paralyzed patients who cannot speak.

The patient starring in this trial study tried nearly every treatment: roughly 20 different medications, months in a hospital day program, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation.

But as with nearly a third of the more than 250 million people with depression worldwide, her symptoms persisted.

Obviously, like epilepsy, one size does not fit all.

And just like epilepsy, an individualized approach towards depression and emotions must be taken.

Come join Sarah’s groundbreaking journey here, as described by The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/health/depression-treatment-deep-brain-stimulation.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20211005&instance_id=41961&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=27745593&segment_id=70669&user_id=4b663372cdc4a3d8ec8b60230b50eec6

And for further information, about deep brain stimulation’s radical benefits, click on: https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20100317/deep-brain-stimulation-stops-seizures

https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/about-epilepsy/treatment/deep-brain-stimulation#.V3LEDLgrLAs

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2941772/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17691313/

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Posted in Epilepsy, Medication Issues, News, Research
Tags: can help depression by up to 30%, DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation, emotions, individualized, nearly 1/3 of the more than 250 million people with depression, one size does not fit all, pacemaker-like device, reducing seizures bu as much as 50%, tiny

Great post Phyllis!! I actually saw this technology on CNBC the other day!! It was focused on a person who was dealing with addiction and getting off of Benzos!….. love your info Phyllis, keep it up! 😀

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Comment by Aaron Holmes — October 7, 2021 @ 3:18 PM

Isn’t it way cool???

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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 7, 2021 @ 3:22 PM

I was very impressed for sure!….. and the fact that CNBC (I follow the markets Mon thru Fri) had a thing on it during regular daytime TV….. and now that you are posting the relationship to epilepsy and depression….. this is GREAT!! 😀 Blessings to you Phyllis, hope you are doing good!

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Comment by Aaron Holmes — October 7, 2021 @ 3:26 PM

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