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8 BOCNEWS.comAPRIL 2016 HEALTH Refuse to Surrender TO The SympTOmS Of paRkinSOnS DiSeaSe OR eSSenTiaL TRemOR a seminar for patients with parkinsons disease or essential tremor and their caregivers. This seminar will help you understand Medtronic DBS Therapy an FDA-approved treatment for the symptoms of advanced Parkinsons disease and essential tremor. risks and benefits of Medtronic DBS Therapy. For more information on DBS Therapy visit www.refusetosurrender.com. ForcompletesafetyinformationaboutMedtronicDBSTherapyvisitMedtronicdbs.com. Join us for a Free Seminar Co-sponsored by Medtronic Dr. David VanSickle with the Denver DBS Center and Dr. Adam Wolff with the Denver Neurological Clinic. Date Monday April 25 2016 Time 600 PM Registration 630 PM Presentation Place Dahlia Campus for Health and Well Being 3401 Eudora Street Denver CO 80207 RSVP 303-830-1839 866-718-2996 toll free Light refreshments served Deep Brain Stimulation Improving Lives Parkinsons disease is a brain disor- der that affects a persons muscle movement. It is progressive mean- ing symptoms continue and worsen over time and degenerative meaning irreversible. It is often considered a chronic disease. People with Parkinsons produce less dopamine which is a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As the disease progresses the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases and symptoms become more pronounced. Motor and non-motor symptoms can affect a person with Parkinsons. Motor symptoms can include tremor of the hands arms legs jaw and face slowness of movement such as slowed responses and even the lack of facial expressions rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk to the point it may cause pain to the person difficulty swallowing and problems with speech and voice and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. Non-motor symptoms may include mood changes such as depression and anxiety fatigue slowed thinking dry skin and cognitive changes. Parkinsons Disease in the African American Community Though African Americans are less likely to develop Parkinsons disease than other races they do have greater disability and disease severity and are less likely to be prescribed medi- cation. Studies show that African Americans may be more likely to be undiagnosed. Cultural differences may prevent patients from seeking appropriate care particularly at early stages when symptoms are not yet disabling. Studies show that African Americans more than Whites may see Parkinsonian symptoms as an inevi- table part of aging and dementia more as a natural result of living a difficult life. Proven Treatments No cure currently exists for Parkinsons disease but there are ways for people to significantly improve their quality of life. Appropriate medi- cations can help address symptoms in early stages. A regular exercise regime that focuses on neuroprotec- tion protecting neurons in the brain from degeneration and neuroplastici- ty getting different areas of the brain to do the work can help. When medi- cations are no longer adequate in con- trolling symptoms deep brain stimu- lation DBS surgery can help. DBS was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Parkinsons disease in 2002. It has been proven to most effectively treat symptoms like tremor muscle rigidity and slow- ness of movements when medications either cause side effects or dont adequately treat symptoms. Data suggests that treating the disease with both medications and deep brain stimulation can provide the most signifi- cant benefits. Deep brain stimula- tion DBS has helped more than 130000 patients over a quarter of a century take back their lives. DBS helps control symptoms by delivering tiny electrical signals into one of three target areas of the brain that control movement. DBS can be thought of as a pacemak- er for the brain. It works by sending continuous electrical impulses to tar- geted areas in the brain to block the impulses causing tremor and rigidity. Doctors arent sure exactly how the pulses work but they appear to block the abnormal firing of neurons caused by the lack of dopamine. The newest research shows that DBS therapy is superior to medical therapy alone in patients with Parkinsons disease and early motor complications. No longer do patients need to wait until symp- toms are debilitating to consider DBS. DBS has been proven effective for Parkinsons disease essential tremor dystonia and obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD. Dr. VanSickle was the first in the world to pio- neer asleep robotic DBS procedures at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Robotics provides an increased level of preci- sion and efficiency pro- viding the best possible surgical outcomes for patients. Imagine a life with- out tremor decreased muscle rigidity and slowness and overall more mobility. Thanks to DBS therapy living well is now an options for people with Parkinsons as well as other move- ment disorders like essential tremor and dystonia. Information gathered from Parkinson Association of the Rockies. Learn more at www.parkinsonrockies. org. Information on DBS courtesy of the Denver DBS Centers website www.southdenverneurosurgery.org denver-dbs-center. The center founded by Dr. David VanSickle is an affiliation of South Denver Neurosurgery headquartered at Littleton Adventist Hospital. By Dr. David VanSickle MD Dr. David Vansickle Dr. David VanSickle Neurosurgery Denver DBS Center Littleton CO