Neurosurgery is new hope for Parkinson’s patients

Neurosurgical procedures coupled with new advancements in treatments may help provide a better quality of life to those suffering from neurological conditions and movement disorders including Parkinson's disease.

Contrary to popular belief, movement disorders particularly Parkinson's disease is not a condition suffered by the old alone.
Dr Paresh Doshi, who launched the Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Sterling, the first of its kind in Gujarat, said 10% of the patients identified with Parkinson's disease are under the age of 45.

"The youngest Parkinson's patient I have operated on is of 32 years old," said Dr Doshi. Asked if the incidence of Parkinson's in those under 40 was on the rise, he said, "It is just that people are now more aware and seek treatment at the initial stage. Hence, we get to know of more patients under age of 40" . In his presentation Dr Sudhir Shah, director of neurosciences at Sterling Hospital, also said the incidence of Parkinson's was found to be slightly higher in rural areas. He said it could be because of comparatively high exposure and over-use of pesticides and hard water.

Dr Doshi added that surgery held out hope for those patients who were not responding to medical treatment or were in the advanced stages of the disease.

On the cost for surgical procedure, Dr Doshi said it would cost anywhere between Rs2 lakh to Rs8 lakh depending on which procedure was being carried out. A lesion procedure may cost Rs2 lakh to Rs3 lakh while a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery may cost Rs7 lakh to Rs8 lakh including cost of the pacemaker.