Advancements in Brain Electrodes for Parkinson's Treatment.
Implanting electrodes into the brain triggers inflammation by activating a group of immune signaling proteins called the inflammasome, which detects infection and prompts a strong inflammatory response, a new study shows. These findings may open new avenues to improve deep brain stimulation, a type of therapy used in Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders to ease patients’ symptoms. The study also suggests that blocking inflammasome activation may help prevent the inflammatory response to implanted electrodes in the brain.