Objective: This study aimed to evaluate how bilateral Globus Pallidus internus (GPi) Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) affects non-motor symptoms in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests with both motor impairments and a range of non-motor symptoms such as hyposmia, pain, neuropsychiatric issues, and autonomic dysfunction. While prior research has demonstrated that subthalamic nucleus DBS can enhance both motor and non-motor functions, the specific effects of GPi DBS on non-motor symptoms remain unclear.

Method: We conducted an analysis of Parkinson’s disease patients who underwent bilateral GPi DBS in 2022. To assess non-motor symptoms, we utilized the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Evaluations were conducted before surgery and again one year post-DBS. Intra-group variations were examined using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests or paired T-tests when appropriate for parametric analysis.

Results: A total of eight patients were included in the study. The baseline Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score in the medication-off state was recorded at 89.1. Following GPi DBS, AES scores showed a reduction with borderline significance (46.8 vs. 40.4, p = 0.059). However, BDI scores did not exhibit a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-DBS evaluations (24.6 vs. 22.5, p = 0.660). Similarly, NMSS scores, its subcategories, and HADS scores showed no significant variations after the procedure.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that apathy levels improved following GPi DBS in Parkinson’s disease patients. However, no statistically significant changes were observed in depression, anxiety, or NMSS scores. The absence of significant results may be due to the small sample size, highlighting the need for further studies with a larger cohort.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-impact-of-bilateral-gpi-deep-brain-stimulation-on-non-motor-symptoms-in-parkinsons-disease/