Friday, April 26, 2013

Obesity could be treated with a pacemaker implanted into the brain, according to new study

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A brain implant could become a new tool for treating obesity in patients unresponsive to traditional medications. A new study at the University of Pennsylvania found that by treating mice using a specially tuned brain pacemaker — a device that sends electrical signals to specific areas of the brain — behaviors such as binge-eating could be significantly inhibited. Though the trial was only performed on animals, the study's lead author is optimistic about its translation to humans. He explained in a statement, "Once replicated in human clinical trials, [the method] could rapidly become a treatment for people with obesity."


The technique is a type of deep brain stimulation, and in this application involves targeting a small structure...


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via The Verge - All Posts http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/26/4270426/deep-brain-stimulation-obesity-treatment-targets-pleasure-center

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