The Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata (I-NK) and Medtronic, a world leader in healthcare technology, announced a collaboration to support and advance medical professionals through improved skill development and exposure to the newest neuromodulation technologies. To ensure well-informed care pathways, these initiatives will also involve educating clinicians and patients about the various therapy options available for the management of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a high incidence of early-onset cases (before age 50) and a prevalence of about 45.82 per 100,000 people in East India, especially in cities like Kolkata. Movement, everyday functioning, and quality of life can all be severely impacted by Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder. For carefully chosen patients, neuromodulation therapies, such as deep-brain stimulation (DBS), have become a viable option to alleviate motor symptoms. Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS), which dynamically modifies stimulation based on patient-specific neural signals, is one recent innovation that aims to provide more individualized treatment.

To help clinicians, patients, and caregivers comprehend the role of advanced neuromodulation therapies, such as Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) for bladder and bowel incontinence, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD) for chronic neuropathic pain, and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s, Dystonia, tremor, and other movement disorders, Medtronic and I-NK have partnered.

With more than 50 years of experience developing treatments for ailments like Parkinson’s, dystonia, tremors, and other movement disorders, Medtronic has been a leader in neuromodulation therapies. Medtronic is dedicated to increasing access to evidence-based neuromodulation therapies and raising awareness of their potential benefits for patients with these conditions by working with I-NK, a recognized Center of Excellence.

Recently, INK, a single specialty hospital that specializes in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and related fields, improved its capabilities by purchasing cutting-edge Microelectrode Recording (MER) technology, which allows for increased accuracy and confidence in neuromodulation procedures, especially in surgeries for movement disorders. As a Center of Excellence, I-NK contributes to the larger neuromodulation ecosystem in India and promotes best practices in the treatment of Parkinson’s, dystonia, tremor, and other movement disorders by educating medical professionals. Additionally, I-NK’s function as a research center fosters clinical research, innovation, and the creation of knowledge in neuromodulation, all of which contribute to the ongoing advancement of Parkinson’s disease treatment.

This timely initiative highlights Medtronic’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes, supporting the strategic growth of India’s healthcare ecosystem, and ultimately transforming patient lives, given that the country has a much higher burden of Parkinson’s disease due to its large population.

Priyanka Dutta