First brain pacemaker against Parkinson's implanted in Germany!

First brain pacemaker against Parkinson's implanted in Germany!

In an impressive medical innovation, a new type of brain pacemaker for Parkinson's disease was implanted for the first time in Germany in a 69-year-old patient at the Würzburg University Hospital. This occurred in mid-June 2025 and represents a significant advance in the treatment of this complex disease. How World reported, deep brain stimulation, for which the pacemaker is used, is considered a long-term effective option for advanced Parkinson's patients.

Parkinson's manifests itself in symptoms such as slow movements, tremors and muscle stiffness, which has an enormous impact on everyday life for those affected. Deep brain stimulation aims to alleviate these symptoms by sending electrical impulses specifically to specific brain regions. The new pacemaker, which is implanted under the collarbone, is connected to electrodes that have 16 contacts. This technique allows a more precise and individual adjustment of the stimulation, which significantly improves the treatment.

Progress through modern technology

Additional software that designs the therapy based on patients' brain images takes this innovative treatment to a new level. The treated patient said just three weeks after the procedure that he felt significant improvements. This shows that modern medicine has a good hand here. Fortunately, more than 1.2 million people in Europe live with Parkinson's, and the number could double by 2030. Therefore, there is an urgent need to further advance such advances in medicine to help these people.

The Deep Brain Stimulation Working Group offers comprehensive information for patients about this procedure, which is being researched not only for Parkinson's, but also for psychiatric disorders such as severe depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Loud gesundheitsinformation.de Individual consultations can only take place in personal discussions with specialists who can realistically present the benefits and risks of the treatment.

Historical context and future perspectives

The roots of Parkinson's research go back a long way. James Parkinson described the symptoms of this disease in his famous “Essay on the Shaking Palsy” as early as 1817. However, it was not until 1993 that bilateral deep brain stimulation was performed on a patient for the first time. Since then, thousands of patients worldwide have been successfully treated with this method. Current studies show that this stimulation may not only be useful in advanced cases, but could also offer benefits in the early stages, especially when there are first signs of fluctuations in effectiveness.

The electrophysiological basis and the exact mode of action of deep brain stimulation are being further researched. The target areas in the brain treated in this context include not only the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson's, but also treatment options for conditions such as dystonia and essential tremor. These findings come from various scientific studies that are examples of the versatility and relevance of this treatment technique Brain Foundation explained.

For patients, this means hope for a symptom-free life. Successful treatment can be maintained through regular adjustments to the brain pacemaker that are necessary after surgery. The “5-2-1” rule is an example of a targeted indication test to determine when deep brain stimulation should be used.

Overall, the development in the treatment of Parkinson's through deep brain stimulation shows that innovative medical technology can bring enormous progress. Those affected can hope for a positive turnaround in treatment, while research advances tirelessly to further improve the quality of life of these people.