Driving Hope for Parkinson’s Sufferers

Drivers suffering from neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, Dystonia or Essential Tremor are being given a new hope for their future behind the wheel of a car, after a revolutionary new treatment has proven to be effective at numbing the symptoms of their conditions.

Deep Brain Stimulation (or DBS) involves implanting small electrodes into specific areas of the patient’s brain, and transmitting minor electrical impulses that can help to regulate abnormal activity within the brain, which should help to ease people suffering from conditions that involve involuntary movement such as spams or shaking.

The treatment was tested with 65 subjects, 23 of which were Parkinson’s sufferers undergoing DBS, 21 sufferers that were not currently undergoing DBS, and 21 non-Parkinson’s sufferers.

After each group had completed a trail drive of three times, the results that came back showed a significant improvement between those of the Parkinson’s patients currently taking DBS, and those not currently taking any treatment, with the former performing better in almost all categories.

In fact, the results seemed to suggest that Parkinson’s patients taking DBS performed just as well as the people without Parkinson’s at all, in most categories, and suggested positive benefits for Parkinson’s sufferers taking DBs to continue driving.

Whilst this treatment becoming mainstream may still be a long way off yet, there is still a glimmer of hope for any people suffering from illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease who cannot enjoy the pleasure of driving due to their condition.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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