New Delhi, Despite clear clinical guidelines, many Parkinson's disease patients in India are being referred too late for Deep Brain Stimulation, reducing the potential benefits of the procedure, AIIMS experts said.
DBS, a well-established surgical therapy for Parkinson's, is recommended for carefully selected patients who respond poorly to levodopa, the most effective medicine for managing the disease, develop disabling motor complications such as fluctuations and dyskinesias despite optimised medical therapy, and also develop unpredictable "on-off" periods.
Experts stressed the need for structured referral pathways and wider awareness campaigns targeting both the public and healthcare providers.
Identifying early referral triggers, such as wearing-off symptoms, dyskinesias, and medication intolerance, can significantly improve outcomes, said Dr Tripathi.
The doctors emphasised that timely intervention with DBS, in appropriately selected patients, can substantially improve quality of life and functional independence.
