Great news! There’s a brand-new episode of the Parkinson’s Life podcast. This time we explore the next frontier of Deep Brain Stimulation, adaptive DBS, through the eyes of a patient who has experienced it first-hand, the nurse who programmed it, and the neurologist helping to shape how it’s used across Europe.
Listen to the podcast below:
“I thought – not a chance. No way on earth will I have brain surgery. Where I am now is astounding.”
Kevin Roberts was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012 and spent years managing his symptoms with medication before dyskinesia finally pushed him towards DBS.
He tells us what it took to say yes to brain surgery, what the weeks and months after the operation were really like.
Kevin is joined by Michelle Gibbs, a clinical nurse specialist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, who has guided him through every stage of his DBS journey; from the initial assessments, to activating the adaptive system.
She explains what adaptive DBS actually does, how she and Kevin used brain signal timelines to fine-tune his programming, and why the people closest to a patient are often the most valuable voices in the consultation room.
Dr Gerd Tinkhauser, a neurologist specialising in movement disorders at University Hospital Bern in Switzerland, offers the broader clinical perspective; from how patients are selected for DBS, to what we still have to learn about when and for whom adaptive stimulation is the right step.
Together, they cover what to expect from the assessment process, how to talk to your neurologist about DBS, the difference between conventional and adaptive stimulation, and why getting the most from this therapy is very much a team effort.
Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Music or on your podcast provider of choice. If you like what you’ve heard, please rate and review – it helps make sure others can find us.
Explore more of our Parkinson’s Life podcasts, with episodes covering Parkinson’s research, how to deal with “off” periods, sex and intimacy in Parkinson’s, and genetics and Parkinson’s. Never miss an episode by subscribing to the Parkinson’s Life podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, or your streaming service of choice.
This podcast is sponsored by Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology.
Parkinson’s Europe is sharing this article for information purposes only; it does not represent Parkinson’s Europe’s views and it is not an endorsement by Parkinson’s Europe of any particular treatments, therapies or products.
