A groundbreaking collaboration between the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic is poised to transform the treatment of neurological diseases such as depression, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. By leveraging a patient-centered approach, researchers are harnessing the power of neuromodulation to develop more precise and effective therapies. MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Researcher, Dr. Tay Netoff and his team – which is led by him, fellow MnDRIVE Neuromodulation Scholar, Dr. Alex Opitz, and clinicians Drs. Gregory Worrell and Paul Croarkin from Mayo Clinic – is taking a patient-centered approach through Minnesota Personalized Neuromodulation Center, or MNPeNCe.
Limitations of Current Treatments
Currently, the most common treatments for these ailments are pharmaceutical drugs, which can be expensive and have far-reaching impacts on the body's other organ functions. However, neuromodulation offers a more targeted approach, allowing clinicians to focus on specific parts of the brain.
The Power of Personalization
The research team is utilizing data from patient interactions to develop innovative software that guides clinicians in defining optimal parameters for individual patients. This algorithm-driven approach takes into account the patient's response to different stimulation settings, predicting which settings will yield the best results.
A New Era in Neurological Therapies
By harnessing the potential of neuromodulation, this collaborative effort has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurological diseases. With a more precise and personalized approach, patients can expect more effective treatment outcomes and improved quality of life.