Adjusting the parameters to fully utilize the efficacy of the brain pacemaker

  Brain pacemakers are an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease, especially progressive Parkinson’s disease, and represent an important breakthrough beyond drug therapy.  The implantation of a brain pacemaker is the beginning of a new type of therapy. To fully utilize the efficacy of the pacemaker, the pacemaker parameters need to be adjusted and combined with a reasonable drug regimen.  The efficacy of a pacemaker is influenced by many factors, including target point, stimulation voltage, stimulation current, stimulation frequency and pulse width, and in recent years, a variety of new stimulation modes have gradually emerged. These influences are more numerous and form an even greater number of treatment combinations. Despite long-term research and the discovery of general patterns, the optimal parameters and combinations for each patient still vary greatly and require constant adjustment and optimization. Feng Tao, Neurology Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Some patients with unsatisfactory outcomes after brain pacemaker surgery have improved after adjustment of stimulation contacts, voltage, frequency and other indicators. Refractory symptoms such as slurred speech, unstable standing, and difficulty in starting are also expected to improve after applying new stimulation patterns.  Therefore, postoperative pacemaker patients should seek systematic adjustment by experienced specialists in order to give full play to the efficacy and minimize side effects.