Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak: "New Developments in DBS Were Discussed"

The 1st Congress of the Deep Brain Stimulation Association Brought Together Leading Experts in the Field

The 1st Congress of the Deep Brain Stimulation Association, which brought together leading experts in the field, was held at Istanbul Atlas University Vadi Campus. Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak — President of the National Deep Brain Stimulation Association, Rector of Istanbul Atlas University, and Neurosurgeon — stated that the congress, which gathered scientists from different disciplines working in the field of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), known among the public as "brain pacemaker," addressed new developments and was highly productive. The congress was also attended by Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid Benazzouz, President of the International DBS Society and one of the pioneers of DBS surgery.

The 1st Congress of the Deep Brain Stimulation Association was held on 3–5 January at Istanbul Atlas University.

The congress was attended by Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid Benazzouz — President of the International DBS Society and one of the pioneers of DBS surgery — Prof. Dr. Yasin Temel — Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at Maastricht University and Editor of the Deep Brain Stimulation Journal — and Prof. Dr. Elena Moro, a board member attending from France. The congress covered the use of deep brain stimulation and its therapeutic effects across a wide range of conditions, including Parkinson's disease, tremor, epilepsy, dystonia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, and severe depression.

Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid Benazzouz: "Marked benefits are being achieved in Parkinson's disease"

Prof. Dr. Benazzouz expressed his pleasure at being in Istanbul and attending the congress, and shared information about the work of the International DBS Society. Noting that patients with Parkinson's disease can now experience very significant benefits and require less medication, Benazzouz stated that deep brain stimulation is currently delivering highly successful results in patients with essential tremor, dystonia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression.

Prof. Dr. Benazzouz stated that neurosurgeons in Turkey are very successful in performing deep brain stimulation surgery for patients with Parkinson's disease.

Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak: "DBS is used primarily in Parkinson's disease"

Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak — President of the National Deep Brain Stimulation Association, Rector of Istanbul Atlas University, and Neurosurgeon — stated that through the congress they organised, they discussed the indications for deep brain stimulation surgery, the outcomes it produces, and reviewed current results.

Noting that the Deep Brain Stimulation Association brings together many disciplines and specialties, Kocabıçak said: "DBS — known among the public as a brain pacemaker — is a fully multidisciplinary surgical method that brings together our neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, and academics and scientists from other specialties, as well as neuroscientists. Deep brain stimulation applications are used primarily in Parkinson's disease, as well as in hand tremors (tremor) and dystonia. DBS — which is also used in epilepsy and certain psychiatric conditions — is a treatment method applied in obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, which is characterised by persistent tics, and even in severe depression cases."