Patients have one thing in common: before walking into the clinic, some limbs keep shaking, some walk bent over, arms do not swing, legs and feet dragging, but out of the clinic when the waist is straight, hands and feet move freely, the shaking storm is also controlled. Is it the doctor who visits the clinic who can do tricks? No, this is a patient with Parkinson’s disease who has a brain pacemaker installed. Scientifically speaking, it is the doctor who controls the abnormal activity of the patient’s brain cells through the energy of the brain pacemaker, so that the limbs can regain their normal motor function. Many Parkinson’s patients tell their doctors that they have been reborn after having a pacemaker installed. Indeed, after years of being “chained” to the movement disorder, pacemaker therapy has unlocked the chains and allowed them to return to their lives. What is Parkinson’s disease? How is it treated with medication? Parkinson’s disease, also known as “tremor paralysis”, occurs when dopamine decreases by about 70%, resulting in movement disorders such as tremors and stiffness in the limbs. Currently, effective medications to treat the disease increase dopamine in the body or directly agonize dopamine receptors. In the early stage of the disease, drug treatment can basically restore normal motor function; however, after the honeymoon period of the drug, the drug expiration date is getting shorter and shorter, and the patient’s quality of life gradually decreases. At this time by increasing the amount of drugs, increase the number of times to take drugs can extend the drug effective period, however, long-term large amounts of dopamine preparations will cause end-of-agent phenomenon, anisotropy and other drug side effects, drug adjustment into a difficult period. How is Parkinson’s disease treated with a brain pacemaker? Brain pacemaker treatment utilizes brain stereotactic surgery to implant tiny stimulation electrodes into the nucleus accumbens to inhibit abnormal discharges of the nucleus accumbens through high-frequency electrical stimulation, thus providing a therapeutic effect. Who is a candidate for a pacemaker? When should I get a pacemaker? The efficacy of a pacemaker is closely related to patient selection. As the disease progresses and the side effects of the medications accumulate, the patient may experience symptoms such as stiffness, difficulty in walking, poor balance, and a tendency to fall some of the time, which is considered to be the late stage of the disease. With pacemaker implantation at this stage, stiffness and tremor can be significantly or completely controlled, but there is limited improvement in poor balance and tendency to fall. Postoperatively, a combination of medication, rehabilitation exercises, and assisted living devices are required, and patient satisfaction declines. For patients with tremor-type Parkinson’s disease that is poorly controlled by medications, brain pacemaker therapy may be indicated early in the disease, as it is particularly effective for tremors. In addition, patients and their families need to know before surgery that brain pacemaker batteries have a useful life and are usually replaced once every five years or so. Life after pacemaker installation The pacemaker surgery is only the beginning of the treatment. Therefore, patients need to visit the hospital for parameter programming and medication adjustments at one month, three months, six months and one year after the surgery, during which time the patient’s motor symptoms gradually improve until they reach a steady state. After the installation of the brain pacemaker, patients should actively carry out rehabilitation training. It is recommended that patients exercise at least half an hour a day, such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc. As the disease progresses, late aggravating symptoms such as low speech, unclear articulation and difficulty in opening steps are problems that Parkinson’s disease patients have to face. In response to these symptoms, patients should take the initiative to carry out rehabilitation training to slow down the decline of limb motor function. For example, reciting and singing high-pitched songs will restore the strength of the throat muscles, and practicing squatting will strengthen the leg muscles and enhance the ability of balance. Are there other surgical procedures for Parkinson’s disease besides installing a brain pacemaker? Unilateral disfiguring surgery is another option available. Destructive surgery can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with tremor and rigidity type of Parkinson’s disease that is difficult to control with medications.