Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a very powerful neurostimulation therapy for the palliative treatment of, mainly, resistant cases of motor disorders. The fruitful results obtained in the neurological scenario led to explore the possibility of extending its application to different psychiatric pathologies. Thus, DBS emerges as a potential alternative to the traditional neurosurgical interventions, which consist of local or major ablative procedures, performed in specific brain regions involved in the symptomatology with the aim to palliate it. In this sense, although it is indeed an invasive technique, it is actually a focal therapy, with potential reversibility of the effects induced by the electric stimulation, and offering the possibility of adjusting the stimulation parameters according to the patient’s needs. Nevertheless, despite the huge efforts and extensive research history in the DBS field, the specific mechanism of action of this therapy remains unknown. Several theories have tried to explain the effects obtained under specific pathologies and stimulation circumstances. However, regardless of DBS undoubted efficacy, a wide number of unanswered questions remain open regarding the specific physiological effects and long-term consequences. Therefore, the application of DBS in the majority of the proposed neuropsychiatric pathologies to potentially benefit from this treatment remains at a research level. Objectives: The main aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effects of DBS, by means of in vivo functional neuroimaging techniques, in healthy rats and in two models of murine obesity. In particular, the main contribution of this thesis is to describe the neuromodulation consequences of DBS on brain metabolism using [18F]FDG-PET at different stages: 1st) after the electrodes insertion, 2nd) during the electrical stimulation, 3rd) after a chronic and intermittent DBS protocol, and 4th) after a chronic and continuous DBS protocol...
Author: Marta Casquero Veiga
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3184299253