Abstract

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established procedure for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. Several deep brain nuclei have been stimulated, producing a wide range of effects on the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Long-term, high-quality evidence is available for stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus, both of which uniformly improve motor features, and for stimulation of the thalamic ventralis intermedius, which improves tremor. Short-term data are available for stimulation of other deep brain targets, such as the pedunculopontine nucleus and the centremedian/parafascicular thalamic complex. Some non-motor symptoms improve after DBS, partly because of motor benefit or reduction of drug treatment, and partly as a direct effect of stimulation. More evidence on the effects of DBS on non-motor symptoms is needed and specifically designed studies are warranted.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Fasano A, Daniele A, Albanese A

Institution

Istituto di Neurologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. alberto.albanese@unicatt.it

Source

Lancet neurology 11:5 2012 May pg 429-42

MeSH

Basal Ganglia
Brain Mapping
Deep Brain Stimulation
Disability Evaluation
Disease Progression
Dyskinesias
Efferent Pathways
Follow-Up Studies
Globus Pallidus
Humans
Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mental Disorders
Motor Activity
Motor Skills
Neurologic Examination
Parkinson Disease
Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus
Quality of Life
Speech Disorders
Subthalamic Nucleus
Ventral Thalamic Nuclei

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22516078