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High-Tech Brain Implants for Parkinson’s: A Patient + Neurologist on Neuromodulation
March 8, 2024 – 5:00 am – 5:30 am PST
High-tech treatments for neurodegenerative diseases are on the horizon. In fact, some patients already have brain implants that help address their symptoms through “reprogramming the brain.” Hear from one patient and his doctor about the real-life story behind this innovative new treatment for Parkinson’s.
On Friday, March 8th at 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET, speaker, author, and Parkinson’s Disease advocate Benjamin Stecher and neurologist Dr. Alfonso Fasano, will both join Being Patient live talks to discuss their upcoming book on just this topic, Reprogramming the Brain.
The upcoming book, slated for February 2024, traces the experience of Stecher and his doctor Fasano’s 2021 decision to surgically implant two six-inch-long metal alloy spikes all the way through his brain. With the patient and doctor writing about the experience and what was to come afterward, the upcoming book will serve as a guide for the future of the brain and neuromodulation.
Stecher, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 29, speaks regularly at academic centers and biotech companies about neurodegenerative diseases, research advocacy, and healthcare. The founder of Tomorrow Edition, he is a patient advisor to several organizations, including the Toronto Western Hospital Movement Disorder Clinic and Rune Labs. In addition to his upcoming book, he also co-wrote Brain Fables with Alberto Espay, published by Cambridge University Press.
Fasano, who holds the Chair in Neuromodulation at the University of Toronto and University Health Network, is also a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. In addition, he is staff neurologist and co-director of the Surgical Program for Movement Disorders at Toronto Western Hospital, staff neurologist at the Hospital of Sick Children in Toronto, and clinician investigator at the Krembil Research Institute and KITE – Toronto Rehabilitation Hospital. His work focuses on the treatment of movement disorders with advanced technology, pathophysiology, and treatment of tremor and gait disorders.
RSVP to the live talk to learn more about the book and about neuromodulation.
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33 people are attending High-Tech Brain Implants for Parkinson’s: A Patient + Neurologist on Neuromodulation
Why are we not jumping for joy when we see on 60 minutes that a Dr. REZAI has found a way to rescue those who are in the clutches of Dementia. IT is not a cure but is a respite that seems to be a possible way to lengthen our days or possibly our years.
RZAI has shown us that we can begin to conquer the beast.
Charles – absolutely! It feels like we’re entering a time where there are increasingly more impactful new research breakthroughs — including good outcomes from technology-forward, non-invasive approaches. The Rezai study was very very small (three patients) and is in very early stages, but we’re keeping our eyes on the news, and we hope to see such treatments prove effective in larger trials and be made available to much wider audiences soon!