Deep Brain Stimulation Shows Promise in Improving Cognitive Function in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

A new technique involving deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown promise in improving cognitive function in individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
The participants experienced a 15-52% improvement in processing speed after three months of DBS implants.
The trial involved five participants who received DBS stimulation targeting the thalamus for 12 hours a day.

A new technique involving deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown promise in improving cognitive function in individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), according to a phase 1 clinical trial. The trial, led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, Stanford University, the Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Utah, involved five participants who received DBS stimulation targeting the thalamus for 12 hours a day.

The technique involves surgically implanting a device deep inside the brain and calibrating its electrical activity to stimulate the networks affected by the injury. This trial is the first to target this region of the brain in patients with TBI and offers hope for those who have plateaued in their recovery.

The participants experienced a 15-52% improvement in processing speed after three months of DBS implants. They also reported improvements in attention and information processing, as well as improvements in their symptoms and daily lives. The researchers hope to conduct larger trials and develop a protocol to train other centers to deliver the treatment.

Deep brain stimulation has been used successfully to treat other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and is now being explored as a potential treatment for cognitive impairment caused by brain injuries. However, it's important to note that this is a small study and further research is needed to confirm these findings.


Confidence

95%

Doubts
  • There is a contradiction in the number of participants in the study reported by different sources.

Sources

97%

  • Unique Points
    • The technique involves surgically implanting a device deep inside the brain and calibrating its electrical activity to stimulate the networks affected by the injury.
    • The trial is the first to target this region of the brain in patients with traumatic brain injury and offers hope for those who have plateaued in their recovery.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • The trial involved five participants who experienced a 15-52% improvement in processing speed after three months of DBS implants.
    • The researchers hope to conduct larger trials and develop a protocol to train other centers to deliver the treatment.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

  • Unique Points
    • The small study, primarily conducted to assess the device's safety, involved six participants with moderate to severe TBI.
    • After one year of using the implant, all five participants who completed the trial showed significant improvement in test scores.
  • Accuracy
    • The number of participants in the study is reported as six, while other sources report five participants.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • The study participants experienced improvements in attention and information processing, as well as reported improvements in their symptoms and daily lives.
    • Deep brain stimulation has been used successfully to treat other conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, and is now being explored as a potential treatment for cognitive impairment caused by brain injuries.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • A phase 1 clinical trial led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, Stanford University, the Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Utah has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve cognition and quality of life in individuals with cognitive deficits following traumatic brain injuries.
    • The trial involved five participants who received DBS stimulation targeting the thalamus for 12 hours a day.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication