Obesidad: tratamiento mediante estimulación cerebral profunda en un modelo experimental.

In this study, we propose the use of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in the Nucleus Accumbens as an anti-obesity treatment. Electrodes were implanted bilaterally in eight obese Zucker rats, divided in two groups: control and NAcc-DBS. DBS was applied during fifteen days. Weight, food and water intake were monitored during all the study. We also performed two PET imaging studies with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) one day after the end of the treatment and one month later. In this way, we assessed the DBS effects in the brain glucose metabolism and its duration, using statistical parametric mapping.

Although no differences in weight gain or intake habits were registered during the study, we have seen a significant modulation of the cognitive and reward brain pathways, which are usually damaged in obese people. Thus, DBS seemed to normalize the impaired hippocampal, thalamic and striatal functioning, whose effects disappeared once the treatment had concluded. In this way, although we are not able to guarantee the efficacy of the DBS as an anti-obesity treatment, this study shows new options for future research.