UK Boy First to Receive Deep Brain Neurostimulator to Treat Epilepsy
The Facts
Eight months after being fitted with a first-of-its-kind deep brain implant, 13-year-old Oran Knowlson has seen an 80% reduction in daytime seizures — showing promise for the use of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of severe epilepsy.
A surgical team at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London inserted two electrodes deep into Oran's brain, which were then connected to a neurotransmitter anchored inside of his skull that sends electrical signals to the brain. The device can be recharged using wearable headphones.
The Spin
Narrative A
Neurostimulation through implants is an exciting new avenue for the treatment of epilepsy and a host of other neurological and mental conditions. By targeting areas of the brain associated with certain ailments, researchers have seen that sending electrical impulses can lessen a whole host of symptoms. This is an exciting new field that warrants much further study.
Narrative B
While this is a promising development, there is growing concern about the stability of the biomedical industry in these experimental endeavors. One woman involved in a study like this one needed to get an epilepsy implant removed after the company that built it went bankrupt, which goes to show that these breakthroughs are only step one. We need to ensure that there is enough backing and support to keep these life-saving innovations viable.
