Share

Market insight in association with

Could deep brain stimulation help regulate insulin for diabetics?

When an obese patient with type two diabetes underwent treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surprising side effect was discovered. The patient’s diabetes significantly improved, with a drastic reduction in his daily insulin intake. This unexpected outcome was investigated further in a recent study in Amsterdam, published by Science Translational Medicine in order to determine whether DBS was the direct cause of the improvement.

DBS is a neurosurgical procedure wherein a neurostimulator, also referred to as a “brain pacemaker”, is implanted in the patient’s body. This implanted device is then programmed to deliver electrical pulses to specific targets of the brain. The procedure can be used to treat OCD as well as other neurological disorders. Using DBS for OCD treatment results in an increase in the levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps to control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. Researchers believe that this boost in dopamine impacts the body’s ability to metabolise sugar.

In the study, 14 people who had already undergone DBS treatment for OCD but did not suffer from type two diabetes were recruited. The DBS devices were turned off for 17 hours and blood sugar levels were monitored. The researchers discovered that DBS therapy increased insulin sensitivity, as turning off the brain stimulators corresponded to higher insulin levels.

In a separate rodent experiment, the researchers stimulated dopamine-releasing neurons in mice; similar results were attained, as increased dopamine production led to a higher glucose tolerance.

A relationship between the central dopamine system and insulin sensitivity in humans has been proposed before, but it has been difficult to establish the underlying mechanisms. Whether these recent findings will lead to the utilisation of DBS as a definite treatment for diabetes therefore remains to be seen.

For more insight and data, visit the GlobalData Report Store.

Share this article

Go to article: Home | Disposable DiagnosticsGo to article: In this issueGo to article: Formacoat Company InsightGo to article: FormacoatGo to article: ContentsGo to article: ElectroCraft Company InsightGo to article: ElectroCraftGo to article: The medical industry briefingGo to article: Omnetics Connector Corporation Company InsightGo to article: NewsGo to article: MikronGo to article: US launches first vision and eye health surveillance systemGo to article: NSFGo to article: Maraca InternationalGo to article: Growing need for diabetes management drives market innovationGo to article: MPS Microsystems Company InsightGo to article: MPS MicrosystemsGo to article: ESC Congress 2018: virtual care at the heart of CVD managementGo to article: ARPA Company InsightGo to article: ARPAGo to article: Could deep brain stimulation help regulate insulin for diabetics?Go to article: Maxon MotorGo to article: Art of TechnologyGo to article: Six tech giants sign health data interoperability pledgeGo to article: AtoZ-CRO GmbHGo to article: Erdmann Design SwitzerlandGo to article: Wireless charging: the breakthrough medical devices are waiting for?Go to article: Protomatic Company InsightGo to article: Protomatic MedicalGo to article: Healthcare in the Home: How VisitHealth is using tech to help GPs better diagnose patientsGo to article: Mecmesin Company InsightGo to article: MecmesinGo to article: Disposable diagnostics: fighting antimicrobial resistance in the field Go to article: Accurate Biometrics - Insight PageGo to article: Accurate Biometrics - Interactive PageGo to article: Organs on a Stick: the growing potential of human organ systems Go to article: Red Rapids Company InsightGo to article: Red RapidsGo to article: Inside Costa Rica’s super-sized medical device sectorGo to article: Röchling Medical NeuhausGo to article: Micro Systems TechnologiesGo to article: Overcoming barriers to digital transformation in R&DGo to article: Euroquartz Company InsightGo to article: EventsGo to article: Velixx Company InsightGo to article: VelixxGo to article: Event: Deep Learning in Healthcare SummitGo to article: FreudenbergGo to article: Next issueGo to article: Aerotech