When Does a DBS Battery Need to Be Replaced?
A DBS battery, or implantable pulse generator (IPG), needs replacement every 3 to 5 years for non-rechargeable devices and up to 9 years for rechargeable ones. Battery depletion isn’t sudden neurologists track device voltage at every programming visit and can...
Can Parkinson’s Disease Affect People Under 50 in India?
Parkinson’s disease does affect people under 50, and in India, early-onset cases account for roughly 10 to 20% of all Parkinson’s diagnoses. When symptoms appear before age 50, it’s classified as young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD); before...
Can DBS Surgery Be Reversed or Removed at a Later Stage?
One of the most common concerns patients raise before agreeing to DBS surgery is whether the decision is permanent. Unlike ablative procedures such as pallidotomy or thalamotomy, which destroy a small region of brain tissue to achieve symptom control, DBS works by...
How Is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed Without a Single Definitive Test?
Unlike most medical conditions where a blood test or scan delivers a clear answer, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed entirely on clinical grounds. The diagnosis rests on identifying the right combination of motor features, observing how symptoms evolve over time,...
What Is the Difference Between Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple System Atrophy?
Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA) both cause parkinsonism, but they are fundamentally different conditions with different prognoses and treatment responses. Parkinson’s involves selective dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra,...