Category: Parkinson's Disease: Surgical Therapy
Objective: Advanced therapies like DBS have been approved modalities for PD. Most studies focused on age below 65, reporting improvement in motor symptoms with persistent short-term and long-term benefits of DBS in PD. However, there is a scarcity of studies on older adults over 65. In our study, we tried to understand the effectiveness of DBS older adults.
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition diagnosed predominantly on a clinical basis. Current treatment modalities usually aim to improve the quality of life but cannot modulate the underlying disease process. For PD, there are no definitive guidelines, especially a defined age limit for undergoing DBS in PD.
Method: 40 of 189 PD individuals who underwent DBS to bilateral subthalamic nucleus between 2022-2024 were assessed on quantitative variables, and qualitative parameters using several scales like UPDRS, MoCA, non-motor symptom scoring scale (NMSS), modified Hoehn and Yahr (mHY) and Schwab and England activities of daily living (ADL) scores before and after 6 months to within 24 months after undergoing DBS.
Results: Mean age was 69 with male predominance and mean disease duration of 10.35 years. Mean pre-DBS UPDRS III OFF scores were 59.63, and ON scores were 16.44. Post DBS mean UPDRS III OFF scores with IPG off was 51.25 and IPG on was 36.13. UPDRS ON scores with IPG off was 31.63, and IPG on was 16.75. mHY staging reduced from 3.56 to 2.28. Mean ADL scores improved from 45 to 76.88. Mean scores of dyskinesias and clinical fluctuations reduced by 72% and 45%, respectively. Mean NMSS showed reduction from 69.82 to 31.44 post-DBS. MoCA was almost same. 50% reduction in LEDD was noticed. Gait disturbances and speech abnormalities are the most complained about in the current cohort.
Conclusion: Age should not be an absolute contraindication for DBS in elderly advanced PD with a positive levodopa challenge test. Despite older age, they have minimal hospitalization with persistent optimal response to DBS and have a better quality of life.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Karri, R. Kandadai, R. Borgohain, S. Kola, R. Alugolu, P. Vvsrk, T. Syed, S. Mohareer, Y. Kancharla. Efficacy and outcomes of deep brain stimulation in elderly Parkinson’s disease: An institutional based study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-and-outcomes-of-deep-brain-stimulation-in-elderly-parkinsons-disease-an-institutional-based-study/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-and-outcomes-of-deep-brain-stimulation-in-elderly-parkinsons-disease-an-institutional-based-study/