Medtronic's brain stimulation therapy effective in treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 30 - Medtronic, Inc.'s Activa Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy combined with medication is more effective than medication alone in treating motor symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study, conducted at 10 academic medical centers in Germany and Austria, included 156 patients with severe motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Patients were randomized to receive medication plus bilateral DBS of the subthalamic nucleus using Medtronic's Kinetra neurostimulation system; or medication alone.

Patients who received DBS plus medication showed a 41% improvement in motor function as measured by the motor examination component of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, while medication-only patients showed no change on the same measure.

"DBS clearly provides important benefits to Parkinson's patients who suffer troubling motor symptoms despite optimal treatment with medication," lead author Gunther Deuschl said in a company news release.

Medtronic is a medical technology company based in Minneapolis.

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