A treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS) could extend the life of people with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Illinois found that patients who received stimulation via an implanted device had a modest survival advantage compared with those treated with medication only. The results appeared in the Nov. 18, 2017, issue of Movement Disorders . Previous studies have shown that DBS can improve motor function in people with Parkinson’s disease. The treatment involves electrodes surgically inserted into specific areas of the brain. An impulse generator battery–similar to what is used in pacemakers–is also implanted, under the collarbone or in the abdomen. The battery creates electrical impulses that the electrodes deliver to the brain tissue. Dr. Frances Weaver, lead author on the study, explained the benefit of DBS: “Overall, DBS surgery has been viewed quite positively by both patients and providers. There is an immediate e...