Oct 12, 2024
Parkinson’s: Deep Brain Stimulation can mimic dopamine effect
Researchers of TRR 295 ReTune at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have made a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Their study, published in the journal Brain, reveals that deep brain stimulation can effectively mimic the action of dopamine, the neurotransmitter deficient in Parkinson’s patients. The research team, led by Professors Andrea Kühn, John-Dylan Haynes, and Wolf-Julian Neumann, focused on understanding the brain’s processes seconds before a movement occurs and the role of dopamine in communicating these intentions
Key Findings
- Deep brain stimulation can replicate dopamine’s effect on brain networks responsible for transmitting movement intentions.
- Dopamine accelerates the process from movement intention to execution and alters brain signal frequencies.
- The loss of dopamine in Parkinson’s impairs communication between deep brain regions and the motor cortex.
Innovative Research Methods
The study employed a combination of extraordinary methods:
- Measured brain signals from movement-initiating areas in Parkinson’s patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery.
- Utilized a brain-computer interface and machine learning to detect movement intentions before muscle activation.
Future Implications
This research paves the way for developing intelligent brain pacemakers. These devices could potentially:
- Read movement intentions in real-time.
- Initiate brain stimulation as soon as patients intend to move.
- Correct pathologically altered brain signal patterns.
The study is a crucial component of the TRR295 ReTune. It represents a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients and advancing our understanding of brain function in movement disorders.
© Picture: Charité | Wolf-Julian Neumann
