Deep Brain Stimulation: From Parkinson' s treatment to personality enhancement?

The purposes of this Café Scientifique are both educational and participatory, and include increasing the attention of the general public on ethical and medical questions associated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). The objectives include providing an overview of the general state of DBS in Canada. For instance, in Toronto, DBS as been used to treat obesity and, surprisingly, this treatment has been correlated with significant memory improvement. This Canadian discovery has lead to a new trial using DBS to enhance memory for patients with Alzheimers Disease. Promoting a sustainable public knowledge on the increasing importance of DBS in the fields of public health, medicine, and rehabilitation is a priority.