FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 07, 2008

French Scientist Receives AAN Movement Disorders Research Award

CHICAGO -

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2008 Movement Disorders Research Award to Alim Louis Benabid MD, PhD, Scientific Director of Clinatec Institute in Grenoble, France, for his work in how high-frequency electrical stimulation in the brain affects movement disorders. Benabid will receive the award during the AAN’s 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, held April 12–19, 2008. The AAN’s Movement Disorders Research Award recognizes an individual for outstanding work in the field of Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders for either a single, outstanding contribution or for lifetime achievement. Benabid says low frequency electrical stimulation of the brain can excite various elements within the brain, while increasing the frequency beyond 100Hz can have a negative effect. “Therefore, high frequency stimulation can be used as a surgical method to stop the activity of neural structures or centers which have become abnormally hyperactive, which happens in a large series of diseases of the central nervous system,” said Benabid. Diseases of the brain such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, essential tremor, epilepsy, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, can benefit significantly from this new method. “New applications are being investigated to treat obesity, minimally conscious states, and some cognitive disorders,” said Benabid. Benabid likens his research to that of deep brain stimulators (DBS) which are used to help Parkinson’s patients by delivering electrical pulses to the brain the way a pacemaker sets a regular beat for a heart. “This research, which was initiated in 1987, has obviously already benefited patients, particularly those with severe forms of Parkinson's disease where chronic deep brain stimulation has been used for two decades, and has helped several thousands of patients around the world.” The 60th Annual Meeting, one of the world’s largest gatherings of neurology professionals, takes place in the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com.