Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation: A Long-Term Overview.

Di Rauso G, Cavallieri F, Campanini I, Gessani A, Fioravanti V, Feletti A, Damiano B, Scaltriti S, Bardi E, Corni MG, Antonelli F, Rispoli V, Cavalleri F, Molinari MA, Contardi S, Menozzi E, Puzzolante A, Rossi J, Meletti S, Biagini G, Pavesi G, Fraix V, Lusuardi M, Fraternali A, Versari A, Budriesi C, Moro E, Merlo A, Valzania F.

Biomedicines · 2022-09-07

Research overview

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Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is an effective treatment in advanced Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, the effects of STN-DBS on freezing of gait (FOG) are still debated, particularly in the long-term follow-up (≥5-years). The main aim of the current study is to evaluate the long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG. Twenty STN-DBS treated PD patients were included. Each patient was assessed before surgery through a detailed neurological evaluation, including FOG score, and revaluated in the long-term (median follow-up: 5-years) in different stimulation and drug conditions. In the long term follow-up, FOG score significantly worsened in the off-stimulation/off-medication condition compared with the pre-operative off-medication assessment (z = -1.930; p = 0.05) but not in the on-stimulation/off-medication (z = -0.357; p = 0.721). There was also a significant improvement of FOG at long-term assessment by comparing on-stimulation/off-medication and off-stimulation/off-medication conditions (z = -2.944; p = 0.003). These results highlight the possible beneficial long-term effects of STN-DBS on FOG.

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