Five-year follow-up of bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in advanced ParkinsonÕs disease
Krack, P., Batir, A., Van Blercom, N., Chabardes, S., Fraix, V., Ardouin, C., Koudsie, A., Limousin, P., Benazzouz, A., LeBas, J., Benabid, A., & Pollak, P. (2003) Five-year follow-up of bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in advanced ParkinsonÕs disease , 349 (20), 1925-1934
This study examined the long-term outcome of bilateral DBS-STN (stimulation in both sides of the brain) in 49 PD patients. Patients were assessed on and off medication. The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), as well and neuropsychological tests, were administered at one, three, and five years after surgery. The results at five-years showed 54% improvement in UPDRS motor scores when off medication. Overall, speech functioning declined in these patients after five-years. This decline was interpreted as a reflection of the expected decline in speech that one would see in non-surgery treated PD patients. DBS-STN does not appear to confer any protection against declines in speech functioning in PD.