You may be able to contribute to the medical knowledge base about PD and get DBS surgery paid for by participating in a clinical research trial. Clinical trials are used to test a particular theory or hypothesis. For example, a trial might be used to try to assess whether DBS patients with leads placed in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) area of the brain have better symptomatic relief than those whose leads are placed in the globus pallidus interna (GPi).
Clinical trials might be conducted by a drug company, a medical device manufacturer, an academic institution or a government agency. The cost of your participation is nearly always covered by the group doing the study. You can learn all about participating in clinical trials at a great website geared specifically to PD-related trials, PDtrials.org.
There are many types of studies. Some may require filling out a survey. Others require a complete physical and a blood sample (costs of which are borne by the group doing the research). Sometimes a new drug or a new treatment method is being tested. Obviously, each type requires a different level of commitment and participation, but the great thing is that YOU get to decide if and when you participate.
One trial specifically devoted to deep brain stimulation is that being run by Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS). Their study website will tell you more.
For a complete list of clinical trials, go to ClinicalTrials.gov
I have participated in a number of clinical research trials and feel that it is an important way that people can participate in the search for better treatments and cures. I highly recommend it for PD patients as well as their family members (many studies need participants for a "control group" or pool of people who don't have PD.
