Brain Tumors
Preventing and treating loss of function
Patients with brain tumors may face challenges such as difficulties with movement, speech, memory, or emotional regulation. In addition, the treatment for brain tumors often involves surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy — interventions that can save lives but sometimes create the same difficulties.
Duke research is advancing treatments to help brain tumor patients regain function:
Reducing side effects
Minimizing invasive surgery, more precise radiation, targeted chemo or immunotherapy mean fewer adverse impacts on surrounding tissue—so patients may have less cognitive, speech, or motor damage to address.
Neuromodulation
Tools such as deep brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or implantable devices can enhance or restore circuits disrupted by the tumor or its treatment.
Neuroimaging
Functional MRI is being used to map critical brain areas and pathways – language, vision, motor control – before surgery. This allows neurosurgeons to plan operations so that damage to essential regions is minimized, helping to preserve a patient’s abilities post-surgery.
Duke Center for Neurorestoration
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