Beyond the operation: life with adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation

"I thought - not a chance. No way on earth will I have brain surgery. Where I am now is astounding.”

In this episode of the Parkinson's Life podcast, 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.

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.

This podcast is sponsored by Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology.

For the latest research and information on Parkinson's, visit parkinsonseurope.org. If you like what you've heard, please rate and review the podcast, it helps make sure others can find us.

Keep a lookout for our next episode and until then, take care!

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