Axial parkinsonian symptoms can be improved: the role of levodopa and bilateral subthalamic stimulation
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
Bejjani, B.P., Gervais, D., Arnulf, I., Papadopoulos, S., Demeret, S., Bonnet, A.M., Cornu, P., Damier, P., Agid, Y. (2000) Axial parkinsonian symptoms can be improved: the role of levodopa and bilateral subthalamic stimulation Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 68, 595-600
This study examined the synergistic effects of levodopa and DBS-STN in 10 PD patients. Patients were assessed with the UPDRS before and six months after DBS-STN surgery. The findings showed that speech was significantly improved by levodopa before surgery. However, additional improvement in speech beyond the improvement seen using levodopa alone before surgery was not seen following DBS-STN. These findings are consistent with other research that shows either no improvement or some decline in speech following DBS-STN.