Over the past decade a kind of brain surgery known as deep-brain stimulation (DBS) has helped some Parkinson’s disease sufferers develop better control of their physical movements. But the risks that come with the invasive procedure—not to mention the costs—keep physicians and patients cautious. The treatment is usually indicated when medicine no longer addresses the neurodegenerative disorder’s symptoms effectively. Now, a new study from European researchers indicates that deep-brain stimulation’s benefits are just as promising for people in the earlier stages of Parkinson’s.
