A groundbreaking clinical trial by Stanford Medicine has introduced a novel approach for treating moderate to severe brain injuries using deep-brain stimulation. This method has shown significant improvements in cognitive abilities and daily activities, marking a substantial advancement in the field of brain injury rehabilitation.
The trial involved a customized deep brain stimulation technique, which yielded results beyond what researchers initially anticipated in addressing cognitive deficits caused by moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries.
Gina Arata, a former college student planning to enter law school, experienced a traumatic brain injury in a car accident in 2001. This injury severely affected her concentration abilities, leading to challenges in even basic tasks such as sorting mail.
Arata, residing in Modesto with her parents, recounted her struggles with memory, frequent tripping due to a weakened left foot, frequent car accidents, and a short temper. Upon learning about Stanford Medicine’s research, her parents reached out, and she was selected to participate in the study. In 2018, she underwent surgery to have a stimulatory device implanted deep in her brain. The device’s electrical output was fine-tuned to stimulate areas affected by her injury.
Post-implantation, Arata observed immediate improvements. She could easily recall items in a grocery store, an ability that diminished when the device was temporarily switched off. Post-implant, she also noted a reduction in traffic violations, improved balance, better memory, and a more controlled temper. She even resumed reading, enjoying and remembering the book “Where the Crawdads Sing.”
The study, involving five individuals with brain injuries, demonstrated that this innovative deep-brain-stimulation technique can effectively restore cognitive functions lost due to brain injuries. Published in the “Nature Medicine” journal on December 4, the trial represents a significant stride in treating traumatic brain injuries.
Over 5 million Americans live with the lasting impacts of such injuries, which include challenges in focusing, memory, and decision-making. While many achieve a degree of independence, their impairments often prevent full participation in educational, professional, and social activities.
Dr. Jaimie Henderson, a neurosurgery professor at Stanford and co-senior author of the study, explained that these patients generally lack effective treatment options. The preserved brain systems supporting attention and arousal in these patients, however, suggested potential for recovery.
The central lateral nucleus in the thalamus, crucial for consciousness regulation, was the study’s focal point. The researchers aimed to reactivate the pathways connecting this nucleus to the cortex through precise electrical stimulation, effectively “turning the lights back up.”
Participants in the trial, aged 22 to 60 and with injuries dating from three to 18 years prior, received custom-placed stimulation devices in their brains. The challenge lay in accurately targeting the central lateral nucleus, which varied in location due to individual brain shapes and injury-related changes.
Following a two-week period to optimize stimulation levels, participants underwent a 90-day treatment phase with the device active for 12 hours daily. The results were measured using the trail-making test, a mental processing speed test. The average improvement in test speed was 32%, significantly surpassing the expected 10%.
The trial’s success, the first of its kind targeting this brain region in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, has raised hopes for many who have seen no progress in their recovery.
“This is a pioneering moment,” said Dr. Nicholas Schiff, co-senior author from Weill Cornell Medicine. The team is now focused on developing this method into a formal therapy.
The study received support from the National Institute of Health BRAIN Initiative, a grant from the Translational Science Center at Weill Cornell Medical College, and surgical implants provided by Medtronic. Collaborators included researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the University of Utah, the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, the University of Washington, the University of Bordeaux, and the Cleveland Clinic.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Brain injury treatment
What is the new treatment introduced by Stanford Medicine for brain injury?
Stanford Medicine’s clinical trial has introduced a novel deep-brain stimulation technique for treating moderate to severe brain injuries, showing significant improvements in cognitive functions and daily activities.
How does deep-brain stimulation help in brain injury treatment?
Deep-brain stimulation involves surgically implanting a device that emits electrical stimulation to specific brain areas. This technique aims to reactivate neural pathways and improve cognitive functions affected by traumatic brain injuries.
Who was a notable participant in the Stanford Medicine trial?
Gina Arata, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, participated in the trial. Post-implantation of the stimulation device, she experienced notable improvements in memory, focus, and mood stability.
What were the significant outcomes of the trial?
The trial demonstrated that the deep-brain stimulation technique could restore, to varying degrees, cognitive abilities lost due to brain injuries. Participants showed improvements in tasks like memory, focus, and decision-making.
What does the success of the trial indicate for future brain injury treatments?
The success of this trial indicates a significant advancement in treating traumatic brain injuries. It offers hope for developing more effective therapies for patients who have seen little progress in their recovery.
More about Brain injury treatment
- Stanford Medicine’s breakthrough in brain injury treatment
- Deep-brain stimulation and its impact on cognitive functions
- Gina Arata’s recovery journey from traumatic brain injury
- Clinical trial outcomes on cognitive improvements post brain injury
- Future perspectives in traumatic brain injury treatment
4 comments
wow this is incredible news, Stanford really is at the forefront of medical innovation, brain injuries are so complex and it’s amazing to see such progress
Read about Gina Arata’s story, really moving. Its one thing to read stats but hearing real stories puts things in perspective, kudos to the team at Stanford.
This sounds promising but I wonder about the long-term effects, and side effects? is it safe for all patients?
its great to see real advances in this area, my cousin had a brain injury and it’s been a tough road. This could be a game changer for many families.