The shift from physical implants toward medicinal treatments for neurological disorders could get a boost from new research that highlights some of the dangers with placing foreign materials in the brain.
Deep brain stimulation and similar interventions have been vital treatment options for older adults with late-stage neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s or dementia.
Even the newest innovations, including tiny “superfibers,” however, have been unable to avoid the fundamental problem that something can’t be placed in the brain without harming the organ tissue in some capacity.
In addition, the effects on brain tissue also can render the implanted devices themselves useless or in need of replacement, the researchers stated.
“Technical innovations have facilitated the development of smaller, smarter and less invasive diagnostic and therapeutic [brain implants],” the study authors state. “However, invasive neurosurgery can lead to chronic inflammation, the formation of a peri-electrode void and the deposition of scar tissue.”
Although the implants themselves may remain a challenge, newer brain-analyzing software to treat Parkinson’s tremors was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this year, the McKnight’s Tech Daily previously reported.
Interestingly, the researchers themselves do not seem to conclude that clinicians need to move away from deep brain stimulation or procedures using similar devices. Instead, the goal is to help learn how to develop new technologies with longer life spans, the study authors stated.
The researchers even discussed a concept seemingly borrowed from science fiction, suggesting that future implants could be used to foster brain-to-brain communication via pure thoughts.
In the nearer term, scientists may have to make due with maintaining the quality of life improvements that current DBS interventions offer, for older adults and anyone else.
