Potential of Device-Assisted Therapy for Advanced-Stage Parkinson Disease

At the 2024 International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS) in Philadelphia, researchers shared results from a small study (DIVE-I trial) testing a new device-assisted therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This trial, which started in 2020, involved 12 patients with PD who experienced movement issues. It was conducted in three phases: an initial phase to check safety, a second phase to test effectiveness and safety, and a follow-up phase that is still ongoing. In the second phase, researchers used a wrist device to track how well patients' movement symptoms were controlled over a 24-hour period. They also assessed changes in movement fluctuations, involuntary movements (dyskinesia), safety, and behavior. The study found that delivering dopamine directly to the brain through a small pump helped control symptoms without causing the unwanted side effects, like dyskinesia, that are common with traditional treatments. Dr. David Devos, a neurologist and co-founder of InBrain Pharma, explained how this approach avoids the side effects of oral treatments by stabilizing dopamine and delivering it through a less invasive method. Watch thsi short video to learn about the device.