Chennai: “Movement disorders is twice common in men than women. The risk of chronic disabling neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease increases with age. The prevalence in India is around 300-400 out of one lakh, which is expected to multiply by 2030,” said Apollo Hospitals functional neurosurgery group advisor, Dr Paresh K Doshi.
He was speaking at an event to launch the hospital’s advanced centre for movement disorders here Thursday.
When 90 per cent of cell loss occurs in brain, one of the movement disorders – Parkinson’s disease – occurs and can be identified with tremors affecting one side of the body.
Speaking to reporters about the disorders, Doshi said, “Awareness on Parkinson’s disease is high in Tamilnadu but, the knowledge on the importance of multi-disciplinary care has not reached them. A person with the condition cannot be treated or cured completely by visiting a neurologist alone; but would require a complete and comprehensive treatment to recover completely. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one such advanced treatment for patients with severe movement disorders.”
With DBS, two holes are drilled in brain and electricity is given to targeted areas of brain through electrodes, which is connected to pacemaker, he said.
Doshi further stated that more than 1.5 million patients across the world have undergone the procedure that improves the quality of life.
On criteria required to undergo it, he said, “When a patient is suffering from the disorder for over five years and when the side effects of medicine is observed, the procedure is done.” Other forms of movement disorders are dystomiam pallidotomy and specific-task dystonia among others.