Skip to main content
Take the Quiz

You have options, DBS is one of them

You may consider Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in the later stages of your Parkinson's disease (PD) journey when medications alone are no longer effective in managing your symptoms. It’s safe. It’s proven. And it’s helped over 100,000 Parkinson's disease patients regain control and quality of life.1,2

What is DBS?

DBS uses a small, surgically implanted device called a “stimulator” to send signals to a targeted portion of your brain. This stimulation can improve your motor function by reducing symptoms such as tremor, slowness, and rigidity. For many patients, this therapy can be life-altering.3

What are the benefits of DBS?

DBS has changed the lives of people with PD, easing symptoms and returning function that was once lost. The results of DBS vary from person to person depending on overall level of health, progression, and window of therapy. 

Benefits of DBS may include:

  • Safe and effective solution to manage and reduce PD symptoms such as tremor, slowness, rigidity, uncontrolled movements, incontinence, and moodiness
  • May reduce number of PD medications taken4
  • Provide 6 hours of more “ON Time,” giving you control and independence to live your life free of rigidity, freezing or the troublesome dyskinesia sometimes caused by PD medication5
  • Patients with tremor experienced an average of 70% reduction of symptoms, depending on type and location6
  • Patients showed marked improvements in motor function and sustained improvement for at least 5 years7

How does DBS work?

When people living with PD experience a disturbance in motor symptoms, it’s because low dopamine levels in the brain are causing abnormal signaling. DBS can help regulate those signals by targeting electrical stimulation. As a result, PD symptoms are often reduced.3 

See how DBS works to control PD symptoms.

Play Video

Leads:

Your doctor will place one or two insulated wires called “leads” in the brain, which connect to a thin wire called an “extension.”

Stimulator:

A small device called a “stimulator” is implanted under the skin in the chest, which also connects to the extension.

Therapy:

The stimulator sends mild electrical pulses through the extension and leads to specific regions of the brain.

When is the right time for DBS?

There is an ideal “window” for DBS surgery. In general, it is best to consider DBS when you are still responding to levodopa but no longer able to control your motor symptoms with medication alone. This timing will differ from patient to patient, as the path and progression of Parkinson’s is personal. Talk to your doctor in the early stages of treatment, and voice your desire to explore alternatives like DBS as you move through your journey.8 

“Thanks to DBS, my husband Kenny has experienced a drastic improvement in his symptoms and reduction in his medicine. That was a huge relief.” 

- Tania—Caregiver to Kenny, a Boston Scientific DBS patient

When is DBS most effective?9

Remember, PD varies from person to person

There is no age cut off for DBS, yet overall health status will influence whether you are a good candidate.

You are still responding positively to medications (levodopa) but are no longer able to control motor symptoms with only medications.

Signs and evidence of dementia may influence if a specialist recommends you for DBS.

The best way to control any disease progression is to be proactive and start talking to your care team now. A DBS specialist can help you find the treatment option that will work best for you.

Find a DBS Specialist

Log on to learning

Find webinars hosted by specialists in PD and DBS. 

Browse Webinars and Events

Results from different clinical investigations are not directly comparable. Information provided for educational purposes only.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

References: 1.  American Parkinson Disease Association. What is Parkinson's disease? Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/what-is-parkinsons 2. Parkinson’s Foundation. Causes. Accessed July 1, 2021. http://parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/causes-and-statistics 3. Boston Scientific Patient Information Brochure. A brighter future is taking shape: treating Parkinson’s disease with deep brain stimulation. Copyright 2021. 4. Timmermann L, Jain R, Chen L, et al. Multiple-source current steering in subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease (the VANTAGE study): a non-randomised, prospective, multicentre, open-label study. Lancet Neurol. 2015;14:693-701. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00087-3 5. Vitek JL, Jain R, Chen L, et al. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation with a multiple independent constant current-controlled device in Parkinson’s disease (INTREPID): a multicenter, double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled study. Lancet Neurology. 2020;19(6):491‐501. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30108-3 6. Farris SM, Giroux, ML. (2013). DBS: A Patient Guide to Deep Brain Stimulation. 1st ed. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2013. 7. Krack P, Batir A, Van Blercom, N. Five-year follow-up of bilateral stimulation of the subthalmic nucleus in advanced Parkinson’s disease. N Eng J Med. 2003:349(20):1925-1934. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa035275 8. Schuepbach WMM, Rau JK, Knudsen K, et al. Neurostimulation for Parkinson’s disease with early motor complications. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:610-622. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1205158 9. Neurology Solutions Movement Disorders Center. Who is a candidate for deep brain stimulation surgery? Accessed July 1, 2021. https://www.neurologysolutions.com/surgical-therapies/criteria-deep-brain-stimulation-surgery/

Indication for Use: The Boston Scientific Vercise™ PC, Vercise Gevia™, Vercise Genus™ Deep Brain Stimulation Systems are indicated for use in:
-Bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) as an adjunctive therapy in reducing some of the symptoms of moderate to advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease (PD) that are not adequately controlled with medication.
-Bilateral stimulation of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) as an adjunctive therapy in reducing some of the symptoms of advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease (PD) that are not adequately controlled with medication.
-Unilateral thalamic stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) is indicated for the suppression of tremor in the upper extremity. The system is intended for use in patients who are diagnosed with essential tremor or parkinsonian tremor not adequately controlled by medications and where the tremor constitutes a significant functional disability. 
-Bilateral stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) of the thalamus for the suppression of disabling upper extremity tremor in adult essential tremor patients whose tremor is not adequately controlled by medications and where the tremor constitutes a significant functional disability.

The Boston Scientific Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation System is indicated for use in:
-Bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) as an adjunctive therapy in reducing some of the symptoms of moderate to advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease (PD) that are not adequately controlled with medication.

Contraindications: The Boston Scientific Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems are not recommended for patients who will be exposed to the following procedures: Diathermy as either a treatment for a medical condition or as part of a surgical procedure, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).  The safety of these therapies in patients implanted with the Boston Scientific DBS System has not been established.  Patients implanted with Boston Scientific DBS Systems without ImageReady™ MRI Technology should not be exposed to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Patients implanted with the Vercise Gevia or Vercise Genus or Vercise Genus Mixed System with M8 Adapter or Vercise DBS Lead-Only System (before Stimulator is implanted) with ImageReady MRI Technology are Full Body MR Conditional only when exposed to the MRI environment under the specific conditions defined in ImageReady MRI Guidelines for Boston Scientific DBS Systems.  Boston Scientific DBS Systems are not recommended for patients who are unable to operate the system or are poor surgical candidates or who experience unsuccessful test stimulation.

Warnings: Unauthorized modification to the medical devices is prohibited.  You should not be exposed to high stimulation levels.  High level of stimulation may damage brain tissue.  Patients implanted with a Boston Scientific DBS System may be at risk for intracranial hemorrhages (bleeding in the brain) during DBS lead placement.  Strong electromagnetic fields, such as power generators, security screeners or theft detection systems, can potentially turn the stimulator off, or cause unpredictable changes in stimulation. The system should not be charged while sleeping.  If you notice new onset or worsening depression, changes in mood or behavior or impulse control, or have thoughts of suicide contact your physician or emergency services immediately.  Chemical burns may result if the Stimulator housing is ruptured or pierced.  The Boston Scientific DBS Systems may interfere with the operation of implanted stimulation devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, implanted cardioverter defibrillators, or medication delivery pumps. Patients should operate motorized vehicles or potentially dangerous machinery with caution.  It is unknown if the device may hurt an unborn baby. Your doctor may be able to provide additional information on the Boston Scientific DBS Systems.  For complete indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and side effects, see DBSandME.com or call 833-DBS-INFO or 833-327-4636.
Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.