Long-Term Benefits from Parkinson Disease Deep Brain Stimulation

At more than 15 years after DBS implantation, benefits were still seen but many patients were lost to follow-up.

In this retrospective, single-center study, investigators sought to evaluate the effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for Parkinson disease (PD) beyond 15 years after surgery. The researchers analyzed information on PD-related motor symptoms, on–off fluctuations, and quality of life (PDQL). They also collected information on medications, stimulation settings, and DBS-related side effects. The study focused on comparing presurgery values to 1 year postsurgery and ≥15 years postsurgery.

The 51 participants had a mean follow-up of 17.06 years; 27 completed long-term follow-up. Overall, dyskinesias and off time were reduced significantly, by 75% and 58.7%, respectively. PD-related dopaminergic drug therapy was reduced …

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)