HEALTH MANAGEMENT. Exact placement of the brain-electrode for Parkinson's patients now possible

Deep brain stimulation stops limb tremor in Parkinson's patients. But positioning the stimulation electrode in the brain needs to be done very precisely to avoid unwanted side effects. To achieve this, researchers Ellen Brunenberg of the Eindhoven University of technology (TU / e) developed a method for the precise, external translation of the right part of the brain: understands "engine" of the core area. She found an ingenious way, this "magic room" locate: use of MRI to visualize the paths in the brain that cause. "If you you can the cities and towns on the map, still see where they are from the pattern of the streets", says Brunenberg, who on Thursday 8 September will win her PhD for her master's thesis titled "hit the right target".
Deep brain stimulation has been used since the 1980s in patients with a severe form of Parkinson's disease. Symptoms of the incurable brain disease are the famous shock of arms and legs. Deep brain stimulation is an electrode in the core understands patient's brain, an area of the size of a cashew nut introduced. The impetus of the electrode can be virtually disappear the vibrations. But there are often side-effects, memory loss and behavioral anomalies through to depression and extreme vulnerability for searches. This is because not only motor area of the core understands the impulse, but encourage the fields, the emotions and thoughts. It is therefore important, precisely in the electrode: not only in the core understands itself, but also in the right part of it. But as doctors see exactly in this small area in the brain of the patient is?
Streets
Brunenberg and her colleagues have developed a technique, the first non-invasive imaging in the different areas in which is a core allows. You do this with cutting edge technology of MRI. "It is difficult, the core directly with MRI, image, because too much, it's like the surrounding brain tissue." But as my supervisor Professor Bart ter hair Romeny says: If you can the cities and towns on the map, you see, where should she be from the pattern of the streets. "
Engine area
Brunenberg the "roads" in the brain can see some complicated techniques. "You can make an image of the structures MRI to move along the water molecules through the brain." And in turn shows that the paths of the transport fibers through the different areas: the "streets" on a map of the brain of that leads to which understands 'City Center'. "The links between the is core and engine from elsewhere in the brain, you can use the part of the core of which is motor," explains Brunenberg.
Brain Surgeons
This research is an important step towards a more effective treatment of Parkinson's patients. The new technique should say soon, brain to introduce the electrode for best results with minimal side effects exactly where surgeons before an operation. But before that can be done, the research must be carried out first patients with Parkinson's. "So far we have worked with healthy subjects." "But one of the problems with Parkinson's patients is that it harder still for them." It is also not yet certain whether the brain of someone with Parkinson's looks the same on an MRI scan. Now you want other researchers at the TU / e, to continue the research.

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