The brain of 34-year-old Amber Pearson contains a one-of-a-kind implant.
Her subsequent improvement has inspired scientists to conduct larger studies of the technology.
Pearson began to see OHSU doctors for her epilepsy in 2016.
Amber Pearson.Photo: OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks
Pearson then had a remarkable idea of her own, based on her research looking into the technology.
Deep brain stimulation is regularly used to treat epilepsy and has shown some promise as anoption for treatment-resistant OCD.
But prior to Pearson, no RBS machine has ever been rigged to treat both at once.
Her doctors agreed to the idea and tried to figure out how to do it.
Then, the rig was tweaked to separately react to both her epilepsy and OCD.
Pearson underwent the procedure in March 2019, and it appears to have been a clear success so far.
And while her seizures are now better managed, the implant has more significantly relieved her suffering from OCD.
Epilepsy brings limitations to my life, but OCD controlled it, Pearson said in astatementfrom OHSU in October.
And though Pearsons OCD and seizures have not fully faded, her daily life has greatly improved.
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