In 2024, we launched an awareness and knowledge-building campaign about deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. We aim to provide an honest, comprehensive and clear picture of the main important aspects to take into account when considering DBS surgery ā demystifying common fears and misconceptions but also objectively considering common challenges, and highlighting how these are normally addressed by healthcare professionals.
The goal of this campaign is to empower people with Parkinson’s and their families to have more meaningful conversations on this topic with healthcare professionals, allowing them to make an informed choice about their treatment.
The campaign features multiple assets available in different languages ā watch this space for more!
We warmly thank all the experts and the people with Parkinson’s who contributed to the development of this campaign by sharing their knowledge, expertise and lived experience, and the industry companies Abbott, Boston Scientific and Medtronic who made this campaign possible via their generous sponsorship.
Webinar ā DBS surgery for Parkinsonās: the questions to ask
To conclude our awareness and knowledge-building campaign, on 24 April 2025 Parkinsonās Europe held a webinar aimed at people with Parkinsonās and their family members who want to know more about DBS surgery.
The webinar was moderated by Prof Alfonso Fasano (Professor of Neurology at the University of Toronto, Canada), and featured as speakers:
- Dr Alexandra Boogers, Consultant neurologist at Chirec Hospitals, Brussels, Belgium
- Prof Stephan ChabardĆØs, Head of the neurosurgery department, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, France
- Janette Sinclair, Board member of Parkinsonās Europe and Action Parkinson, Belgium
The session kicked off with an account of Janette’s recent experience with DBS surgery, highlighting the concerns she had as well as the elements which led her to move forward with receiving DBS surgery. Dr Boogers, Prof ChabardĆØs and Prof Fasano provided their experience on how they address similar questions and concerns from their patients, and shared advice and useful information that people who are considering DBS surgery should take into account.
In the Q&A session, the speakers answered a number of questions from the audience about:
- eligibility and exclusion criteria for DBS
- the ‘window of opportunity’ to receive DBS
- adaptive DBS
- recovery after surgery
- reduction of medication intake after DBS
- quality of life with the implant
- compatibility and interaction with MRI and other magnetic devices.
Articles about Deep Brain Stimulation
DBS podcast
Listen below to our podcast featuring Ā Lucy Partington-Smith, a DBS and advanced therapy nurse specialist, neurosurgeon Veerle Visser-Vandewalle, and Gerlach Roomans, a person with Parkinson’s who has received DBS surgery:
Explore the campaign on social
From handy infographics about DBS to real-life stories, there’s a range of Deep Brain Stimulation information on our social media profiles. Take a look at some examples below:
In January this year, our Board member Janette Sinclair underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to treat her Parkinson`s.
Four months on, Janette has written a frank account of her experience - the highs and the lows - from start to finish.
š Read Janette`s story - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
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#DeepBrainStimulation #DemystifyingDBS #parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonswarrior #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonsuk #parkinsonsjourney #parkinsonslookslikeme #pƔrkinson #parkinsonssucks #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #truestory #dbssurgery #neurosurgery #brainsurgery
Great news! š§ If you missed our DBS webinar last week, you can now view the recording in full over on YouTube - click the LinkTree in our bio to find it! š
(š¹ Psst: why not subscribe to our YouTube Channel while you`re there? More videos coming soon!)
#DemystifyingDBS #DeepBrainStimulation #Parkinsons #Parkinson #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonswarrior #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsonsuk #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #parkinsonslookslikeme #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonssucks #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment
"DBS doesn`t cure Parkinson`s, but it helps a lot." This is a clip of Gerlach Roomans, who was diagnosed with #Parkinsons in 2009, discussing his journey with Deep Brain Stimulation surgery on our recent podcast episode. šļø
š Listen to the full episode - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
In partnership with @abbottglobal, @bostonsci and @medtronic
@bostonsci_emea @medtronicita
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#DemystifyingDBS #DeepBrainStimulation #parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #ParkinsonsAwarenessMonth #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
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Join our next webinar on 24 April to find out more about #DeepBrainStimulation surgery! š§ We`ll be hearing from experts (including @al_fasao) and a person with Parkinson`s who recently had the surgery to find out more and highlight the questions people should ask their healthcare professionals about DBS.
š Register by clicking the LinkTree in our bio! š
#DemystifyingDBS #Parkinsons #Parkinson #parkinsonsevent #parkinsonswebinar #parkinsonsawarenessmonth #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
There are usually some worries or fears around any surgery, and Deep Brain Stimulation is no different. Here are some brilliant people with Parkinson`s who have already successfully undergone DBS surgery to tell you about their initial fears and how they overcame them. Find lots more information and advice in our in-depth interview - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
#DemystifyingDBS
In partnership with @abbottglobal, @bostonsci and @medtronic
@bostonsci_emea @medtronicita
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#DeepBrainStimulation #parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
Fact: #DeepBrainStimulation can`t improve every Parkinson`s symptom (there are more than 40, after all!) Here`s some info on what DBS can and can`t help with.
Find lots more information and advice in our in-depth interview - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
#DemystifyingDBS
In partnership with @abbottglobal, @bostonsci and @medtronic
@bostonsci_emea @medtronicita
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#parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
An important part of researching #DeepBrainStimulation for Parkinson`s is finding out the benefits of this surgery. Here are 5ļøā£ examples, sourced straight from DBS experts!
Find lots more information and advice in our in-depth interview - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
#DemystifyingDBS
In partnership with @abbottglobal, @bostonsci and @medtronic
@bostonsci_emea @medtronicita
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#parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
š§ Like all surgical procedures, there are some common fears and misconceptions around Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson`s.
š Swipe through to find out the facts - and find lots more expert information and advice in our DBS interview - click the LinkTree in our bio! š
#DemystifyingDBS #DeepBrainStimulation
In partnership with @abbottglobal, @bostonsci and @medtronic
@bostonsci_emea @medtronicita
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#parkinson #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #parkinsonsawareness #parkinsonsnews #parkinsonscommunity #livingwithparkinsons #parkinsonespaƱa #parkinsonspower #parkinsonssupport #parkinsonitalia #parkinsoniano #parkinsonsjourney #pƔrkinson #parkinsonsresearch #parkinsonism #parkinsonismo #parkinsonscare #parkinsonslifestyle #parkinsonsresources #parkinsonstreatment #neurology #neurologia #dbs #dbssurgery
