Effect of Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

• Published in: Journal of international medical research Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 1108 - 1113
• Main Authors: Niu, L, Ji, L-Y, Li, J-M, Zhao, D-S, Huang, G, Liu, W-P, Qu, Y, Ma, L-T, Ji, X-T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Deep Brain Stimulation; Female; Gait; Humans; Levodopa - therapeutic use; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson Disease - therapy; Prospective Studies; Subthalamic Nucleus - physiopathology; FREEZING OF GAIT; SUBTHALAMIC NUCLEUS DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION; PARKINSON'S DISEASE; ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING; MOTOR FUNCTION; STEREOTACTIC NEUROSURGERY; NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/147323001204000330

OBJECTIVE: A prospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy of bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Patients (n = 10) with advanced Parkinson's disease were surgically implanted with microelectrodes to facilitate STN-DBS. Evaluations of FOG, motor function, activities of daily living and neuropsychological function were carried out in on-medication and off-medication states (with and without levodopa treatment), before surgery and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: STN-DBS was associated with significant improvement in FOG score and neuropsychological function at both 6 and 12 months postoperatively, compared with preoperatively. Significant postoperative improvements were also observed in motor function and activities of daily living. Daily levodopa dosage was significantly lower at both 6 and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: STN-DBS improved FOG in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. The significant reduction in levodopa dosage and improvement in neuropsychological function may be the reason for the therapeutic effect seen with STN-DBS.