No abstract

Therapy with STN-DBS improves motor symptoms in PD without any clinically relevant neuropsychological deterioration.

Bilateral STN stimulation safely improves all parkinsonian symptoms, decreases or eliminates the need for levodopa, and ameliorates motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Complete withdrawal of levodopa is feasible with this technique and the overall motor effect of STN stimulation is quantitatively comparable to that obtained with levodopa.

We examined the impact of the subthalamic nuclei (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) on the health-related quality of life (QoL) of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Seventeen consecutive patients with refractory motor fluctuations and dyskinesia were included in the study (mean age, 60.9 +/- 7.7 years [range, 43-74 years]; disease duration, 16.4 +/- 8.5 years [range, 7-38 years]; mean off-medication Hoehn and Yahr stage, 4.23 +/- 0.66 [range, 2.5-5]). Each patient's assessment was carried out using common rating scales, following the Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantation (CAPIT) protocol. Dyskinesia and emotional state were evaluated through the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). QoL was assessed by means of the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire Spanish version (PDQ-39). Significant benefit was obtained in the motor manifestations and complications of disease, as well as in the functional state and mood (P < 0.001). Some QoL dimensions (mobility and activities of daily living) and the PDQ-39 Summary Index (PDQ-39SI) showed a significant improvement (P < 0.001). Benefit was modest (P < 0.05) for three other domains (emotional well-being, stigma, bodily discomfort) and nil for the rest. There was no correlation between the change obtained in the QoL (PDQ-39SI) and in the other variables. As measured by the PDQ-39, STN-DBS significantly improves important aspects of QoL in patients with advanced PD.

Objective: To evaluate the sleep symptoms and polysomnographic architecture in advanced Parkinson's disease after chronic bilateral subthalamic stimulation (STN-DBS). Methods: Sleep was studied in 11 patients (six women and five men; mean (SD) age 63.6 (7.8) years) who underwent STN-DBS. Subjective sleep evaluation was assessed by clinical sleep interview and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaire, and sleep architecture by polysomnography with audiovisual recording. Nocturnal mobility was evaluated. Results: Before surgery, eight patients rated their sleep quality as unsatisfactory; seven of these had a marked improvement after surgery, and the PSQI questionnaire showed significantly improved sleep quality. After surgery, polysomnography showed an increase in the longest period of uninterrupted sleep and a decrease in the arousal index. There was an increase in nocturnal mobility after surgery, but no change in REM sleep behaviour disorder. Conclusions: In advanced Parkinson's disease, chronic STN-DBS is associated with subjective improvement in sleep quality, probably through increased nocturnal mobility and reduction of sleep fragmentation.