Institute of Medical Sciences, Nizam, Hyderabad

The Hyderabad Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences is stepping up efforts to improve the quality of life of patients who are struggling with Parkinson’s disease through advanced treatment options and comprehensive care. |Photo source: Nagara Gopal

The Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) of Hyderabad is stepping up efforts to improve the quality of life of patients who are struggling with Parkinson’s disease through advanced treatment options and integrated care. With support from dedicated dyskinesia clinics and government health programs, NIMS is changing outcomes for people affected by neurological diseases.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease that affects movement and motor control. Although medical advances improve patients’ prognosis, the disease still presents daily challenges including tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness and balance problems. Non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders make life more complicated for patients and caregivers.

“Parkinson’s disease can be effectively managed with timely medication and surgical options such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), allowing patients to live an active life,” said Sireesha Yareeda, another professor and senior neurologist at NIMS. She stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment to improve long-term outcomes.

DBS is a key treatment provided by NIMS and is often recommended after 3 to 4 years of drug treatment when the drug begins to lose its effectiveness or causes disturbing side effects. The process involves implanting electrodes into targeted areas of the brain, which are then connected to the battery placed on the chest wall. Dr Sireesha said that the stimulation helps manage minimal surgical risk symptoms thanks to the delicate technology used by the institute.

Yerramneni Vamsi Krishna, professor and head of neurosurgery at NIMS, added that some patients may benefit from ablation procedures, where calories are used to make small, specific brain regions of the brain generate calories to further improve quality of life.

The dysmotic clinics of NIMS cater not only to Parkinson’s clinics, but also to related diseases such as dystonia and tremor. Importantly, the inclusion of Telangana government health plans such as Aarogyasri and Staff Health Plans makes this advanced surgery easier to obtain. Since August 2024, more than 93 DBSs have been accepted on NIMS under these programs.