Neuropsychological and quality of life assessment in patients with Parkinson's disease submitted to bilateral deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus

• Published in: Dementia & neuropsychologia Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 260 - 265
• Main Authors: Heluani, Alessandra Shenandoa, Porto, Fábio Henrique de Gobbi, Listik, Sergio, de Campos, Alexandre Walter, Machado, Alexandre Aluizio Costa, Cukiert, Arthur, de Oliveira, Jr, José Oswaldo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associação de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento 01-12-2012; Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
• Subjects: CLINICAL NEUROLOGY; cognitive assessment; deep brain stimulation; GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY; HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; NURSING; Original; Parkinson's disease; PSYCHIATRY; PSYCHOLOGY; quality of life; subthalamic nucleus; cognitive assessment; Parkinson's disease; quality of life; subthalamic nucleus; deep brain stimulation; doença de Parkinson; qualidade de vida; núcleo subtalâmico; estimulação cerebral profunda
• ISSN: 1980-5764; 1980-5764
• DOI: 10.1590/S1980-57642012DN06040010

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been widely used to control motor symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with Parkinsons disease (PD). Recently, DBS in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has become the preferred target for patients with mixed motor symptoms. Despite resultant motor and quality of life improvements, the procedure has been associated with cognitive decline, mainly in language skills, and also with psychiatric symptoms.
To evaluate the influence of DBS in the STN on cognition, mood and quality of life.
We studied 20 patients with PD submitted to DBS in the STN from May 2008 to June 2012 with an extensive battery of cognitive tests including memory, language, praxis, executive functions and attention assessments; the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39); and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), were applied both before and after the surgery. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 and results compared using the paired Student's
test.
A total of 20 patients with pre and post-operative assessments were included. A statistically significant improvement was found in total score and on subscales of mobility, activities of daily living and emotional well-being from the PDQ-39 (P=0.009, 0.025, 0.001 and 0.034, respectively). No significant difference was found on the cognitive battery or mood scale.
DBS in the SNT improved quality of life in PD with no negative impact on cognitive skills and mood.