NCTalks with Ali Rezai: changing lives through neuromodulation

Written by Lauren Pulling, Editor

Neuromodulatory techniques have risen in profile in recent years, with these groundbreaking therapies now being used to treat a vast range of conditions from Parkinson’s to pain, and obesity to depression. With these techniques now becoming more refined and more readily-available to patients, we spoke to Ali Rezai, a leading neurosurgeon and Director of The Ohio State University Neurological Institute (OH, USA). Dr Rezai has been involved in the pioneering use of brain pacemakers for treating Parkinson’s disease, depression, OCD and traumatic brain injury, and his current research focuses on developing neuromodulation therapies to treat migraine headaches, asthma, addictions, Alzheimer’s, obesity, post-traumatic stress disorders and autism.
Listen to our latest NCTalks podcast below with Dr Rezai to hear more about his work, how neuromodulation can be harnessed to treat ‘alternative’ conditions, and where he hopes the field will progress in the next decade. In addition, take a look at the video case studies below to see some of the remarkable results observed in patients who have received neuromodulation treatments (videos kindly provided courtesy of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center).

Device allows paralyzed man to swipe credit card, perform other movements

 

New device allows brain to bypass spinal cord, move paralyzed limbs