The CURE

Brain Pacemaker

Could the implantation of electrodes into the brain transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s?

More than five million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that causes debilitating tremors and can make the simplest tasks, such as getting out of a chair, almost impossible.

The disease is caused by a degeneration in a region of the brain known as the basal ganglia, and while it occurs mainly in older people, it is more common in men.

But a procedure known as Deep Brain Stimulation, in which electrodes are implanted into the brain and connected to a battery pack in the chest, is bringing much needed relief.

Reporter Yasmeen Qureshi travels to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the US to witness a patient undergo the procedure.

She also meets other patients, such as Parkinson’s disease sufferer David Smith, and sees for herself the life-changing impact the device has on quality of life.

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