Central Nervous System Implants in Parkinson’s Disease: Emerging Trends and Future Perspectives

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Non-motor symptoms including cognitive decline, depression, and autonomic dysfunction also significantly affect patients’ quality of life. While pharmacological therapies like levodopa provide initial relief, their long-term use often results in complications such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Electroceuticals have emerged as an innovative treatment approach that targets the brain’s electrical activity to restore functional neural circuits. This review highlights key electroceutical strategies in PD management, focusing primarily on deep brain stimulation (DBS), which involves implanting electrodes into regions like the subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus interna to deliver electrical impulses. DBS has shown efficacy in improving motor symptoms and reducing medication needs in advanced PD. Other neuromodulation techniques such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) are also being explored for their potential to improve both motor and non-motor symptoms through neuroplastic changes and neurotransmitter modulation. Despite challenges such as surgical risks and cost, electroceuticals represent a promising advancement in PD treatment, offering personalized, circuit-based interventions beyond traditional pharmacotherapy.