Question

What is a recent treatment for Parkinson's disease that allows patients to suppress their motor symptoms?

1) Electrical stimulation of the primary motor region
2) Intracranial administration of the drug haloperidol
3) Administration of reserpine into the spinal cord
4) Deep electrical stimulation of the subthalamic region
5) Infusion of GABA into the locus coeruleus

Answer 1

Deep electrical stimulation of the subthalamic region, known as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), is a recent treatment for Parkinson's disease that helps patients suppress motor symptoms without affecting dopamine levels. Therefore, the correct answer is option 4.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the treatments for Parkinson's disease, a recent method that allows patients to suppress motor symptoms is deep electrical stimulation of the subthalamic region. This procedure, commonly referred to as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), involves implanting electrodes that deliver electrical impulses to areas in the brain that control movement, thereby helping to manage tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia associated with Parkinson's.

In contrast to L-DOPA, which is a pharmacological treatment that provides the precursor to dopamine, DBS is a surgical intervention that provides symptom relief without directly affecting neurotransmitter levels.