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According to a new study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers have found a new way, deep brain stimulation, to find brain dysfunctions in four major diseases: Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome. .
A total of 261 patients were studied, of whom 70 had dystonia, 127 had Parkinson’s disease, 50 had OCD, and 14 had Tourette syndrome.
To find the dysfunctional brain circuits in these brain disorders, the researchers implanted electrodes in the patients’ brains. “In simplified terms, when brain circuits become dysfunctional, they can act as brakes on specific brain functions that the circuit normally carries out,” said Andreas Horn, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one of 39 researchers from 16 institutions who co-authored the study said in a news release.
Role of electrical stimulation
Connections between the frontal cortex in the forebrain and the basal ganglia, structures located deeper in the brain, are known to control cognitive and motor functions. If brain disorders occur, these circuits can be affected and their communication can become overactive or malfunction. Previous studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, a small region of the basal ganglia that receives input from the entire frontal cortex, can help relieve symptoms of these disorders, the researchers explained.
Parkinson’s disease involves a brain dysfunction that affects dopamine-producing neurons and manifests itself in motor symptoms such as tremors and rigidity. In addition, cognitive impairments such as memory and attention deficits may occur. Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, involves sustained muscle contractions that lead to repetitive or twisting movements. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome are psychiatric conditions with underlying neurological components. OCD involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, possibly related to dysfunction in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit. Tourette syndrome manifests itself in involuntary motor and vocal tics, potentially resulting from abnormal activity of neurotransmitters in brain regions such as the basal ganglia and cortex. These conditions underscore the complex interplay between brain dysfunction and clinical manifestations.
A total of 261 patients were studied, of whom 70 had dystonia, 127 had Parkinson’s disease, 50 had OCD, and 14 had Tourette syndrome.
To find the dysfunctional brain circuits in these brain disorders, the researchers implanted electrodes in the patients’ brains. “In simplified terms, when brain circuits become dysfunctional, they can act as brakes on specific brain functions that the circuit normally carries out,” said Andreas Horn, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one of 39 researchers from 16 institutions who co-authored the study said in a news release.
Role of electrical stimulation
Connections between the frontal cortex in the forebrain and the basal ganglia, structures located deeper in the brain, are known to control cognitive and motor functions. If brain disorders occur, these circuits can be affected and their communication can become overactive or malfunction. Previous studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, a small region of the basal ganglia that receives input from the entire frontal cortex, can help relieve symptoms of these disorders, the researchers explained.
Parkinson’s disease involves a brain dysfunction that affects dopamine-producing neurons and manifests itself in motor symptoms such as tremors and rigidity. In addition, cognitive impairments such as memory and attention deficits may occur. Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, involves sustained muscle contractions that lead to repetitive or twisting movements. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome are psychiatric conditions with underlying neurological components. OCD involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, possibly related to dysfunction in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuit. Tourette syndrome manifests itself in involuntary motor and vocal tics, potentially resulting from abnormal activity of neurotransmitters in brain regions such as the basal ganglia and cortex. These conditions underscore the complex interplay between brain dysfunction and clinical manifestations.