There is a time in every human being’s life when they realize that certain things are just out of their control. Some may view this as frustrating, whereas others may be relieved. For most, physical health is not seen as something out of their control. You can have the right diet, exercise a few times a week, drink enough water, and sleep the recommended eight hours.
If you’re doing all of that, or at least something close, you are probably in generally good health. I say something close because it seems pretty unlikely that any Stevens student is doing all of that during midterms. Of course, there are wonderful apps that can help you plan your life out to fit all of your activities while still managing
Unfortunately, we all know that planning does not always work. Whether it be missing the shuttle on the way to campus or hearing bad news on the day of a big interview, there are times when it is clear that life is unpredictable and not always in our control. There are many diseases that make that truth very evident, specifically Parkinson’s disease.
Those with Parkinson’s disease experience progressive degeneration of brain nerve cells. This robs them of dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter that affects motor control, happiness levels, and other executive functions. The onset is often gradual, commonly starting with a faint tremor before progressing into delayed movements, rigid muscles, the loss of automatic actions, and difficulties with speech. It is currently incurable, but there are promising methods of managing symptoms.
Deep Brain Stimulation, known as DBS, to name one, can increase the affected person’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering professor Dr. George McConnell and his team here at Stevens are dedicated to using DBS in the most effective way possible.
McConnell obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University before attending Georgia Institute of Technology for his Ph.D. in Bioengineering. Sticking close to his roots, he and his team have collaborated with Duke University researchers on the work, learning about memory in humans and other animals to try to understand why DBS works in the way it does.
In the eponymously named lab, Dr. McConnell is currently focusing on rodent brains and targeting small regions to create techniques clinicians can use on humans.
DBS had never been effective for treating problems with gait or posture, and by determining those selective points of the brain, this could revolutionize the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. Scientific developments such as these have given scientists the knowledge and technical prowess to influence the outcome and symptoms of diseases that would have otherwise run their course unobstructed.
Be First to Comment