Promising Results: Deep Brain Stimulation Offers Hope for Stroke Rehabilitation

A small clinical trial conducted at the Cleveland Clinic has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) applied to the cerebellum may aid in the recovery of upper limb function following a stroke. The trial, supported by the NIH's BRAIN Initiative, involved twelve participants who received DBS to the cerebellum along with physical therapy. The study found that DBS plus physical therapy was safe and potentially effective, with nine out of twelve participants showing improvements in motor function. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings, but the results suggest that DBS could be a promising treatment for post-stroke motor deficits.