Deep brain stimulation, a process in which electrodes stimulate specific brain circuits to reduce motor symptoms, has long helped people with Parkinson’s disease manage their tremors — but a new approach is helping push the therapy even further.

Maria Shcherbakova, a neurology researcher at UCSF , pointed out that this approach — called adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) — is already improving the quality of life for patients who don’t respond well to conventional deep brain stimulation. Unlike the conventional method, which delivers continuous stimulation via an implantable brain device, aDBS adjusts its electrical signals in real time based on the patient’s brain activity.

This personalization gives patients better control of their unique symptoms, as well as fewer side effects,

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