A little over a decade ago, doctors at TWH embarked on a new frontier of medicine, pioneering Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of movement disorders. The electrical stimulation involved in DBS treatment acts like a pacemaker for the brain and can help eliminate the symptoms associated with movement disorders such as dystonia, essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

“DBS can pinpoint the areas of the brain that are malfunctioning and stop their abnormal behaviour,” explains Krembil neurosurgeon Dr. Andres Lozano, who was the first surgeon in North America to perform DBS.

On September 10th, patients of the Movement Disorders Clinic and their families gathered to listen to the emotional and inspiring stories of some of UHN’s DBS patients.

“We wanted to thank and honour our patients, who put their trust in our hands to help them improve their quality of life,” said event organizer and neurologist Dr. Elena Moro. “Their willingness to participate in this new technique helped advance the treatment and enabled Krembil Neuroscience Centre to become a world leader in DBS.”

TWH is now pioneering DBS for Alzheimer's disease and is the only centre in the world to offer this treatment. Each year 8,000 patients in 300 hospitals worldwide are treated with DBS for Parkinson's Disease and depression, but only TWH is able to use DBS as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Did you know?The Krembil Neuroscience Centre is Canada’s leading clinical, research and teaching facility for disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and eyes. Located at Toronto Western Hospital it is world renowned for its clinical programs and for its research in spinal cord injury, stroke and neurovascular disorders, neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, brain tumors and epilepsy.

Stroke is one of the most common causes of adult disability.
Reduce your risk by following these tips.

1. Keep your blood pressure in check. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for stroke. Work with your doctor to develop an individualized plan to reduce your blood pressure.

2. Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoking is directly linked to higher risk for a stroke. The good news? If you quit now you still have time to lower your risk.

3. Eat a healthy diet. Try to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

4. Keep active. Regular physical exercise helps you fight heart disease and stroke. Try swimming, walking, yoga and yard work to keep your heart strong and your circulation flowing.

Stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute counts. If you or someone you love has one or more of these signs, call 911 immediately.

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Sudden trouble walking, with dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause