Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Obesity in Patients With Prader-Willi Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria: * 15 years or older * Parents able to give informed consent * Diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome confirmed by genetic analysis * Refractoriness to medical treatment, defined as a weight loss lower than 10% of the body weight with nutritional, pharmacological or surgical interventions * Severe or morbid obesity * No contra-indications to the surgical procedure Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiovascular disease that might significantly increase the surgical risk * Brain lesions detected clinically or during MRI * Use of cardiac pacemakers/ defibrillators * Clinical conditions that may require the use of MRI in the post-operative period * Patients undergoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatments * Patients unable to return to the hospital at the required intervals * Previous neurosurgical treatments that may increase the risk of DBS surgery * Active medical conditions that may require in-hospital treatment in the nearby future * Previous diagnosis of epilepsy or status epilepticus * Chronic infection * Plan to use diathermy * Metallic implants that might preclude MRI imaging of the brain * Active participation in other experimental studies