A revolutionary device which provides sufferers of Parkinson's disease with an on-off switch to control their symptoms has been launched in Britain.
The machine consists of a battery-powered transmitter connected to electrodes embedded deep in the brain. By turning the device on with a matchbox-sized magnet, the disabling symptoms of the illness - involuntary shaking, lack of balance, and immobility of limbs - can be controlled.
Alternatively, patients can reduce the power setting so that their symptoms are reduced.
Up to 20,000 people a year in the UK could, in theory, be helped by the treatment but few are likely to be offered it because of cost.
The Activa device, made by the American based company Medtronic Inc, costs around #5000 and the surgery required to instal it another #7000 to #10,000.
Maintenance, including renewing the battery, might cost several more thousands of pounds every five years or so.
The Parkinson's Disease Society and doctors pioneering the system claim that, balanced against the high cost of medication and long term care, it could be worth the price. Drugs for controlling the symptoms of the disease can cost #15,000 a year.
About 125,000 people are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article