Dystonia patients 'should receive early deep brain therapy'
Wednesday 30th March 2011
The sooner dystonia patients undergo deep brain stimulation, the better the outcome, according to new research.
An international study published in the Journal of Neurology found that every patient with dystonia who underwent deep brain stimulation showed overall improvement in motor function.
In addition, the number of patients taking medication for the condition decreased by 52 per cent after one year of treatment and 80 per cent after three years.
Michele Tagliati of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said that those who begin treatment earlier may have a better outcome than those who have suffered from the condition for longer.
"Also, age at surgery appears to influence the time necessary to achieve the best clinical response, meaning that older patients need more time before reaching their potential benefit," she added.
Dystonia is a neurological condition which causes involuntary muscle contractions and spasms, sometimes causing body parts to move into unusual positions.
Written by Angela Newbury
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