Parkinson' s A Patient' s Journey With Deep Brain Stimulation Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Parkinson' s A Patient' s Journey With Deep Brain Stimulation Aug 16, 2021 Jasmine Aimaq Share Tweet Post They told her it was just anxiety. Even her primary care doctor thought it was nerves. Maybe she was even a bit of a hypochondriac. But Yoheved Hasson believed the involuntary shaking in her leg had to be something more. When she visited a neurologist, she got the diagnosis: Parkinson's disease. Her heart sank. Both her uncle and grandfather had suffered from the condition. "Do not be afraid of deep brain stimulation. It is a life-changing procedure." Michele Tagliati, MD "I remembered what they went through," she says. But her family was optimistic. Yoheved had always been physically active and led a healthy lifestyle, they said. Medicine had also made progress since her uncle and grandfather's days. Surely things would be better for her. She started taking several medications to control her symptoms. At first, it worked. "I felt amazing," she recalls. She got on with her life, but several years later, the drugs stopped working and she began to suffer—and worry. But thanks to her family's support and her own resilience, she never lost hope. She'd raised three children on her own, had a successful career as an interior designer and wasn't someone who gave up easily. She researched her options. "I discovered that Dr. Michele Tagliati was the best, so I decided to see him," she says. It was the right call. Dr. Tagliati, a neurologist and director of the Movement Disorder Program at Cedars-Sinai, took time to understand Yoheved's unique situation. "I was so impressed,” she says. “I quickly knew I could trust him." In Discoveries: You Must Remember This Adam N. Mamelak, MD Yoheved was suffering from tremors as well as dyskinesias—uncontrolled writhing movements—and painful muscle contractions known as dystonia. "She had a fairly advanced case of Parkinson's by then," says Dr. Tagliati. "We tried many different drugs and treatments. She even enrolled in a clinical trial." After every treatment failed, Dr. Tagliati proposed something a little more unusual. Would Yoheved be open to Deep Brain Stimulation, a therapy that had proven helpful for patients like her? He was referring to a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes in the brain, delivering electrical impulses that block or change the abnormal activity that cause Parkinson's symptoms. "It was the only option we had left," Dr. Tagliati explains. Yoheved had heard of DBS, which is sometimes referred to as "a pacemaker for the brain," and was afraid of it. But she trusted Dr. Tagliati. She met with neurosurgeon Dr. Adam Mamelak, who agreed she was an excellent candidate. "I knew I was in very good hands with him too," Yoheved says. Though nervous, she was ready. Yoheved proceeded with the treatment. The results were remarkable. Her symptoms improved dramatically. Now she has a message for other Parkinson's patients: "Do not be afraid of deep brain stimulation. It is a life-changing procedure." In the Newsroom: Study Yields Tiny Targets for Healing Human Memory Tags Brain Neurology Patient Stories Movement Disorders Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics In Our Community Faces of Cedars-Sinai Patient Stories Los Angeles Behind the Scenes Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility