"Decreasing the hyperactivity present in an area of the brain improves mood in patients with depression". This was stated by Dr. Andrés Lozano, neurosurgeon at the Toronto Western Hospital and Full Professor of the HealthNetwork University of Canada, on the occasion of his visit to visit at research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) of the University of Navarra.

The brain uses electricity for neuronal communication, but there are circuits that function pathologically. In recent years, an electrical stimulation technique has been developed to change the activity of these circuits. Specifically, it is estimated that 40,000 people in the world have benefited from this alternative, mainly in Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Lozano's team has been working for 15 years on the application of deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease. He presented the results of their scientific work to the researchers of the area Neurosciences at CIMA. He explained that they have transferred their experience to other pathologies with higher prevalence, such as psychiatric diseases. "Through imaging tests using PET-scanner we have detected that these patients show certain hyperactivity in the lobe of the brain that controls mood and sadness. Once this area is located, we introduce electrodes to decrease the hyperactivity, which seems to have a positive effect on mood. So far we have treated 30 patients and we are going to initiate a study with several centers with the goal to be able to confirm the data of this technique."

They have recently started a line of research focused on improving the cognitive functions of patients with report disorders. "We have started a pilot study in which we want to use this same technique to increase the activity of the circuits that control report. Perhaps this alternative may be useful, since we think that all the circuits in the brain may be related."

Mayo Clinic neurologist discusses multisystem atrophy

Dr. Eduardo Benarroch, Professor of Neurosciences and neurologist at the Mayo Clinic (USA), also visited CIMA . He stressed the need to detect biological markers as early as possible to predict which patients are most susceptible to developing the disease. "The goal is to initiate early neuroprotective treatment that prevents, decreases or slows cell death."

The Mayo Clinic's research line focuses on biochemical analysis of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, a less common but more severe and rapid course. "We are now beginning to know some of the mechanisms by which abnormal proteins cause neuronal death and different pathologies. It used to be thought that dopamine was the only neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson's disease. Today it is known that neurons of different systems degenerate and several neurotransmitters are involved. It is even possible that some genetic and environmental aspects may interact, although there is still a lot of research to be done in this field".