Estimulação Cerebral Profunda no Tratamento da Doença de Alzheimer: o que há de novo?

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é reconhecida como uma prioridade de saúde pública pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, sendo caracterizada pelo acúmulo de proteína beta-amiloide extraneuronal e de proteína tau intraneuronal. Embora afete milhões de pessoas no mundo todo atualmente, existem poucas formas de tratamento e nenhuma é capaz de reduzir a progressão da doença ou causar cura. Apesar disso, novas opções vêm sendo testadas para o tratamento da DA, dentre elas a estimulação cerebral profunda (ECP). Esta técnica consiste na implementação cirúrgica de um eletrodo no parênquima cerebral, conectado através de um cabo a um gerador de pulso implantado (IPG) abaixo da clavícula, enviando uma corrente elétrica, estimulando, assim, a formação de neovasos e a manutenção do parênquima. Para a DA, esta técnica foi utilizada pela primeira vez por Turnbull et al., em 1985, com o alvo no núcleo basal de Meynert. Hoje, o local mais estudado para o posicionamento do eletrodo é o fórnix e estudos têm mostrado resultados animadores. Este estudo visa estudar o que há de novo na utilização da ECP para o tratamento da doença de Alzheimer.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is recognized as a public health priority by the World Health Organization. It iss characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein extracellularly and tau protein intracellularly. Although affects millions of people in the world, currently, there are only ten treatment strategies, and none of them is capable to reduce the progression or cure. Besides that, new options are currently being tested for AD treatment. Among them, deep brain stimulation (DBS). This technique consists of surgical implant of an electrode into the cerebral parenchyma connected through a cable to a pulse generator implanted below the clavicle sending an electric current, stimulating, this way, new vessels formation and parenchyma maintenance. For AD, this technique was first used by Turnbull et al., in 1985, using the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert as a target. Nowadays, the most studied target for Alzheimer DBS is the fornix, and the studies have shown promising results. This study aims to study what is new about DBS utilization for Alzheimer disease treatment.

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