Conditions treated
Dr. Davis treats people with essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease and primary dystonia who experience mostly dysfunctional movement symptoms that no longer respond to medications. Additionally, Dr. Davis provides DBS as an adjunct therapy to medications and surgery for individuals with epilepsy.
“Tremor can be a symptom of a variety of neurologic disorders, including essential tremor, which is not a life-limiting illness,” Dr. Davis says. “About 1 in 3 patients with tremor stop their medications because their tremor does not respond. DBS may be a good option for them.”
Parkinson’s disease is more complicated because it’s progressive and affects the whole brain, Dr. Davis says. “The best candidates with Parkinson’s disease are patients with primary motor symptoms who are losing their response to levodopa over time, or who have unwanted side effects. Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as depression, dementia and sleep disorder typically do not respond to DBS therapy.”
Although DBS is not yet an approved indication for primary dystonia, Dr. Davis obtained a humanitarian device exemption from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for LVHN patients.