Objective: To evaluate outcomes in patients following bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS within the Irish National DBS service by clinically assessing motor symptoms severity, quality of life and medication management at set time points.
Background: Deep Brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). DBS contributes to enhance quality of life by improving motor symptoms and reducing motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. This study presents the first three years longitudinal outcomes from Ireland’s National DBS service.
Method: This longitudinal study included 20 patients with advanced PD who underwent bilateral STN DBS. Clinical assessments were performed pre-operatively and at 6 months, 1 year and 3 years post-operatively. Motor function was evaluated using the MDS-UPDRS and the MINIBESTtest (MINIBEST). Quality of life was assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39). Levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) was recorded at each time point. MDS-UPDRS scores were compared between on stimulation/off medication and off stimulation/off medication states at each follow-up interval.
Results: Mean MDS-UPDRS part III scores demonstrated sustained improvements in the on stimulation/off medication condition (21.2, 23.0, 26.11 respectively) compared with the off stimulation/off medication state (44.8, 48.5, 55.2, respectively) with significant differences at all time points (p<0.0001). MINIBEST scores remained stable overtime (24.1, 23.7, 23.7, 21.9; p>0.5). PDQ-39 scores improved significantly from a pre-operatively 46.1 to 27.6, 30.3 and 36.6 at the follow-up (p=0.007, p=0.042, p>0.9999). Mean LEDD was significantly reduced from 1092.3mg pre-operatively to 569.5mg, 545.4 and 405mg respectively at each time points (p<0.0001, p=0.0001, p=0.0124).
Conclusion: Bilateral STN DBS within the Irish National service provides sustained motor benefits, significant medication reduction and improved patient-reported quality of life over three years. These findings demonstrates durable clinical effectiveness within the Ireland’s National DBS service, with outcomes comparable to international standards from other European centers.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
F. Ruggieri, M. Kelly, A. Gill, C. O'Keeffe, J. Inocentes, E. Reynolds, M. Garvey, N. Austin, M. Borsek, E. Pereira, T. Lynch, C. Faeron, C. Moran, R. Walsh. Three Years On: Outcomes of Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s disease from the Irish National DBS service [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/three-years-on-outcomes-of-subthalamic-nucleus-deep-brain-stimulation-in-parkinsons-disease-from-the-irish-national-dbs-service/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/three-years-on-outcomes-of-subthalamic-nucleus-deep-brain-stimulation-in-parkinsons-disease-from-the-irish-national-dbs-service/