ADAPTIVE DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION: A NEW HOPE FOR PARKINSON’S PATIENTS AT FONDAZIONE MONDINO
Fondazione Mondino IRCCS in Pavia is revolutionizing Parkinson’s care by introducing adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), a cutting-edge therapeutic approach that offers real-time responsiveness to patients’ neurological signals, promising a more personalized and effective treatment.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been a cornerstone of Mondino’s Parkinson’s treatment for nearly 25 years. Traditionally, DBS delivers continuous, unchanging electrical pulses to targeted brain regions, helping manage motor symptoms and reduce medication reliance. What sets aDBS apart is its ability to adapt stimulation intensity in real time based on the brain’s own feedback, such as ON/OFF phases, specific symptoms, or activity levels during wakefulness and sleep. This dynamic regulation enhances symptom control while minimizing side effects and optimizing pharmacological therapy.
Claudio Pacchetti, lead neurologist and DBS specialist, describes the surgical approach: microelectrodes are inserted into precise neural regions to modulate dysfunctional communication via electrical stimulation, improving motor control and enabling reduced medication dosages. Meanwhile, Roberta Zangaglia, head of the Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, emphasizes the unique personalization offered by aDBS—an intelligent system that auto-adjusts stimulation based on individual brain signals.
This innovative technology does more than enhance patient outcomes—it opens doors for new research frontiers. By capturing patients’ daily neural activity in real-life settings, aDBS generates data that deepen our understanding of Parkinson’s dynamics and supports the refinement of truly individualized treatments.
Pavia’s integration of aDBS, along with directional DBS systems like Medtronic’s SenSight and BrainSense technologies, positions the Mondino-San Matteo hub as Italy’s leading centre for advanced DBS therapies—targeting 40–45 annual procedures. Patients receive seamless surgical care at San Matteo, followed by postoperative therapy at Mondino’s specialized unit, underlining the region’s comprehensive and coordinated care pathway.
For international patients seeking advanced Parkinson’s treatment, Fondazione Mondino offers unparalleled access to state-of-the-art aDBS, delivered by a multidisciplinary team of world-class neurologists, neurosurgeons, data analysts, and rehabilitation specialists.
References: Mondino’s News
Every year, the Mondino takes care of 100.000 patients, performs 105.000 outpatient treatments, with 4.000 admissions.
This year, the Mondino Foundation reaches its 52nd anniversary since its first recognition as a Scientific Institute for Hospitalization and Treatment, which dates back to 1973, crowning and continuing its century-long tradition as a center dedicated to teaching, care and research in the fields of nervous system disorders, neuroscience and neurorehabilitation.
LEARN MORE
For patients coming from abroad, the Fondazione Mondino’s International Department organises an all inclusive service, making travel arrangements for patients and their companions, to ensure that their journey is safe and comfortable, and also managing the pre-treatment and the after-care processes. All this is possible thanks to a network of contacts in the various countries of origin and the availability of telemedicine facilities.
The Fondazione Mondino is well aware of the difficulties that can be encountered when seeking to obtain medical care in another country, and in a foreign culture. Supported by TMI, a medical tourism company whose mission is to be a point of reference in matching patient needs with the right healthcare facilities, the all-inclusive “door2door” service allows us to support our patients every step of the way: with the initial treatment plan and quotation requests, on their arrival in Italy through to their departure, and, through the network of contacts, also during the follow-up in their own country. Patients can be assured that they will feel “at home” at every stage of the treatment.
