Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of eight-hours aDBS on neuropsychological functions in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) promises better clinical motor outcomes than conventional DBS in PD patients. An important issue before aDBS comes into practice is to prove its feasibility and safety. 

Methods: 7 patients with PD [(mean±SD) age 61±6.4; UPDRS 26.5±14; 1 Female] and implanted with electrodes in the bilateral STN underwent cognitive evaluation to asses, language (Semantic and Phonemic Verbal Fluency, Naming, Repetition), memory (Word Recognition Task) and attention (Simple Reaction Times, RTs) at baseline T0 (aDBS off, Drug treatment off) and after eight-hours T1 (aDBS on, Drug treatment off). The assessment was conducted 6 days after surgery and patients were stimulated with an external aDBS device.

Results: There was no significant cognitive change after aDBS [(mean±SD; T0 vs T1) Semantic Verbal Fluency 12.3 ± 3.3 vs 15 ± 3.4; p=0.12; Phonemic Verbal Fluency 10.4 ± 3.7 vs 9.7 ± 1.8; p=0.56; Naming 19.7 ± 0.7 vs 10.6 ± 0.8; p=0.36; Word Recognition Task 19.7 ± 1.6 vs 19.1 ± 1.6; p=0.28; RTs 447.6 ± 78 vs 426.1 ± 50; p=0.36]. No errors occurred during words and sentences repetition task. Also, no significant change of UPDRS total score was observed after eight-hours aDBS.

Conclusions: Our data show  that eight-hours aDBS in PD patients failed to influence their cognitive performances. These findings can help the discussion about the safety of aDBS.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/cognitive-safety-of-eight-hours-adaptive-deep-brain-stimulation-adbs-in-parkinsons-disease/