The Health Bureau (SSM) announced in a statement yesterday that it is gradually arranging deep brain stimulation (DBS) neurosurgical procedures for Parkinson disease (PD) patients at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre.
The bureau completed the first DBS surgery last year, and there are 1,000 PD patients currently undergoing treatment in Macau, the statement noted.
Dr Iao Kin Sang, a neurosurgeon at the public hospital, said the surgery can only be done if the patient has a movement disorder that is difficult to control by medication and has no serious deterioration in his or her cognition, otherwise, patients who resume their motor skills may engage in behaviours that endanger their safety.
Dr Lo U Chong, a neurologist at the public hospital, said that while there is no known cause or cure for PD, studies have shown that a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
Macau has become an ageing society and the number of patients with PD is increasing, the statement said, while DBS surgery is one of the treatment options for PD, which is an electrical stimulation instead of partial drug treatment.
Therefore, the statement said, the Health Bureau believes that through health promotion campaigns the public can increase its awareness of PD, so that family members or caregivers can recognise it early, and the illness can be “detected, diagnosed and treated early”.
The statement said that the bureau also continues to provide patients, their families and caregivers with information on the disease and medication precautions, such as gait and balance training to enhance patients’ muscle strength, balance, and cognitive activities, so as to promote brain training to slow down the decline of brain tissue.
In addition, the statement said, the bureau conducts ongoing training for patients and their families to teach home safety precautions and fall prevention skills, as well as psychological support and caregiver stress management, with the aim of creating a caring community where patients can enjoy better care.
Yesterday was World Parkinson’s Disease Day, which was designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1997 to be observed on April 11 each year in commemoration of James Parkinson, a British doctor who first described the characteristics of shaking palsy in 1817, and to raise awareness of the disease, support sufferers and offer help to their families.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows its staff conducting a training session for senior citizens.
