Deep Brain Stimulation Benefits Parkinson's Patients

A long-term study has found that deep brain stimulation by electrodes implanted on both sides of the brain markedly improves the motor skills of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. The study was published in the September 2003 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery.

Researchers followed 25 Parkinson's patients who had electrodes implanted into the region of the subthalamic nucleus on both sides of the brain. The electrodes were wired under the skin to pacemaker-like devices, and the frequency and intensity of stimulation were adjusted. Patients were monitored and evaluated before and after surgery while on and off medication. When patients were off medication, motor skills and the ability to perform daily living activities improved by about 42%. Medication doses were reduced by 38%. The researchers believe the reduction in medication may partly account for the significant decrease in dyskinesia.

"We saw a pronounced decrease in the motor scores associated with Parkinson's disease--the tremors, stiffness, and slowness--and this benefit was persistent through the course of the long-term follow-up,” said Dr. Anthony Lang, professor in the division of neurology at the University of Toronto (Canada), who led the study. Prof. Lang warns that deep brain stimulation, however, will not prevent the disease from worsening, slow its progression, or prevent the development of later problems such as dementia. Still, younger patients like the ones in the study (around 57 years old) did experience sustained improvement for an average of two years after the procedure.




Related Links:
University of Toronto