Almost 16 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, George Martin says he has gotten his life back, thanks to an early technology of its kind.
The 68-year-old lives in Mount Pearl, NL, but the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic allows his doctors to treat him remotely from Toronto.
It has reduced the tremors caused by his condition and allowed him to live his life again, Martin told CBC Toronto.
“I can drive again, which I couldn’t do. I can go to restaurants, where I was too nervous to go, too afraid of falling. I can dance again,” Martin said. “I got my life back.”
Martin underwent surgery last November to begin deep brain stimulation (DBS). The treatment relies on a device, described as a brain pacemaker, that directs electrodes to the parts of the brain that cause Martin’s tremors. DBS is not new, but before the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic was approved in Canada, patients would have to make in-person appointments with their doctor to make substantial adjustments to the device.
The Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital is the first clinic to implement the new technology in Canada, and Martin is the first patient in the country to receive treatment.
The pandemic spurred the development of remote technology
Before the technology used by the Krembil Brain Institute, face-to-face DBS clinics were limited to the most populated regions of Canada.
Some provinces have no treatment centers, said Dr. Alfonso Fasano, a clinical researcher at the institute.
He told CBC Toronto that the COVID-19 pandemic provided the impetus to roll out a fully remote treatment option.
“Finally there was this push to implement something that would allow us to schedule patients remotely,” Fasano said. “It’s like any telemedicine platform, but it’s built into the program we use [adjust the device’s settings].”
It’s just like using any other tablet, he said. “We see the patient, we talk to the patient and we can adjust their DBS settings in real time and it’s extremely safe.”
The software was developed to withstand cyberattacks and connection malfunctions, he added.
Dr. Alfonso Fasano, a clinical researcher at the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital, says the new technology allows him to treat patients with neurological disorders across the country. (University Health Network)
Fasano is excited about the possibilities this new technology opens up. He hopes patients across Canada will soon be able to receive treatment without having to travel long distances, as long as they have an Internet connection.
NeuroSphere technology can also help patients with a variety of neurological diseases. DBS is also approved to treat essential tremor disorder, dystonia and epilepsy, Fasono said.
In the future it may also be approved to treat other conditions such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
An added benefit, Fasano said, is that patients can be screened at home in their everyday environments. This allows doctors to program the technology to better meet patients’ daily needs.
Martin said he’s grateful to be able to get the treatment he needs from the comfort of his own home.
The NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic allows doctors to remotely administer deep brain stimulation to treat patients with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor disorder and epilepsy. (Abbott Laboratories)
After years of unsuccessful treatments for Parkinson’s, he said he was almost ready to give up.
“My specialist here in Newfoundland … looked at me one day and said, ‘There’s nothing more I can do for you,'” Martin said.
Fortunately, this specialist suggested that I investigate DBS treatment.
With the help of his sister who lives in Toronto, Martin made the long trip for an assessment.
After a week, he said, he was called back for surgery. He was released the same day and thankfully has not had to travel again since.
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Now, in his spare time, he camps in his travel trailer on weekends and enjoys walking his four beagles, activities he was unable to do before remote DBS treatment.
“Anyone who is considering having the operation, I recommend it,” Martin said. “It’s been great for me. And I appreciate it [the doctors] a lot.”