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Hope starts here

Understanding your Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis is the first step to building a team and treatment plan that works for you. 

Millions of people around the world live with PD. It’s personal…and deciding how to manage and treat the disease is, too.1 We are here to help. Arm yourself with information and resources, so you can prepare for the healthiest future possible.

Removing the mystery

Having PD can feel confusing—and even invading—as symptoms come and go, tremors appear, and simple tasks become difficult. Understanding PD helps you remove the mystery of your diagnosis. 

PD is a movement disorder that is both progressive—meaning it advances over time—and degenerative, because it is characterized by a continuous decline of dopamine—producing cells in the motor region of the brain.

Dopamine is an important chemical substance that the brain uses to regulate movement. Dopamine declines in PD patients, reducing their ability to control or initiate movement, resulting in symptoms like tremor, slow movement, rigidity, and postural instability.2

Searching for answers

It’s natural to seek answers after a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Why did this happen? Did I cause it? Are my children or grandchildren at risk? Unfortunately, the exact cause of PD is still unknown. Researchers believe Parkinson’s disease is caused by a complex combination of factors involving genetics or familial history, environment, and aging. Studies haven’t been able to place more weight on one of those factors over another. As with many things about PD, the cause is diverse, personal, and dependent on the individual.3

Symptoms

Motor symptoms

Motor symptoms can make the activities of everyday life challenging.4

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) is used to treat only some of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The Boston Scientific DBS devices are not approved for all motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Please refer to the Boston Scientific DBS devices’ Indication for Use statement for more information.

Please discuss the risks and benefits of DBS with your doctor to see if it is right for you.

Non-motor symptoms

Even though PD is a movement disorder, the non-motor symptoms can have just as big an impact on your quality of life.5

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) is used to treat only some of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The Boston Scientific DBS devices are not approved for any of the non-motor symptoms including the ones listed above. Please refer to the Boston Scientific DBS devices’ Indication for Use statement for more information.

Please discuss the risks and benefits of DBS with your doctor to see if it is right for you.

Reaching a diagnosis

Arriving at a Parkinson’s diagnosis may take several wrong turns, diagnostic tests, and visits to doctors. PD isn’t diagnosed through a single test. You may first see an internist or family physician. The doctor will observe you for various symptoms, and then prescribe diagnostic testing from a neurologist specially trained in movement disorders.6 

Find a DBS Specialist 

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References: 1. Parkinson’s Foundation. Statistics. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics 2. American Parkinson Disease Association. What is Parkinson's disease? Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.apdaparkinson.org/what-is-parkinsons 3. Michael J. Fox Foundation. About Parkinson's causes. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.michaeljfox.org/causes 4. Parkinson’s Foundation. Movement symptoms. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Movement-Symptoms 5. Parkinson’s Foundation. Non-movement symptoms. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Non-Movement-Symptoms 6. Parkinson’s Foundation. Diagnosis. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Diagnosis

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.