Objective: To assess changes in non-motor symptoms(NMS) in PD after focused ultrasound subthalamotomy(STN-FUS).
Background: NMS impair quality of life in PD.STN-FUS improves motor signs in PD but its impact on NMS remains poorly characterised.
Method: Two cohorts of PD patients undergoing STN-FUS for motor manifestations were analysed:retrospective cohort for hypothesis generation and prospective cohort for exploratory hypothesis testing.NMS were assessed in both cohorts at baseline and 6 months using validated scales (MDS-UPDRS I–II,MDS-NMS,PDQ-39,QUIP,Starkstein Apathy Scale,BAI,GDS).The prospective cohort included additional assessments(NMSQuest,BDI,HADS,PDSS2,TAS20) and a 2-week visit.Motor manifestations were evaluated with MDS-UPDRS III-IV.Data were analyzed using paired t-tests(retrospective cohort) and linear mixed-effects models(prospective cohort).
Results: Thirty-two patients were included(12 retrospective;20 prospective).
In the retrospective cohort (median age 52.0y,median disease duration 3.0y),MDS-UPDRS I-II,improved at 6 months (4.0[3.0-6.0] to 2.0[0.7-3.2],p=0.021;6.0[2.0-7.2] to 2.0[0.7-3.5],p=0.024).MDS-NMS total score improved from 26.5 (19.5-32.7) to 9.5 (3.5-16.2),p=0.045,with specific improvements in sleep(p=0.024).PDQ39 score improved from 11.6(8.1-21.8) to 3.3(1.4-6.2),p<0.001,with improvements in activities of daily living(p=0.009),well-being(p=0.025),stigma(p=0.041)and cognition(p=0.013).Impulsivity,apathy,anxiety and depression scores remained stable.
In the prospective cohort (median age 58.3y,median disease duration 3.6y),MDS-NMS(p<0.001),NMSQuest(p<0.001),PDSS2(p<0.001)and HADS anxiety(p=0.001) improved at 2 weeks and remained improved at 6 months.Similarly,MDS-NMS subdomains for anxiety(p<0.001),cognition(p<0.001),sleep(p<0.001),gastrointestinal(p=0.026)and pain(p=0.003) improved at 2 weeks,with improvements in anxiety,cognition,and sleep persisting at 6 months.Initial improvement in BAI and BDI(p=0.034,p=0.019)was not statistically significant at 6 months.MDS-UPDRS I-II,QUIP,TAS20,Starkstein Apathy Scale,HADS depression,and PDQ39 scores remained stable.PDQ39 subdomains improved in well-being(p=0.022),stigma(p=0.007),cognition(p<0.001),and bodily discomfort(p=0.011).MoCA score improved at 6 months from 26.5(25.4-27.6) to 27.4(26.3-28.5),p=0.044.
No worsening was observed in any non-motor scale.
Conclusion: STN-FUS for PD was associated with improvement in several NMS domains.No permanent non-motor adverse events were reported.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
E. Natera-Villalba, R. Rodríguez-Rojas, JA. Pineda-Pardo, T. Jimenez-Castellanos, M. Del Alamo, M. Escribano, D. Mata Marín, P. Guida, I. Obeso, JA. Obeso, R. Martínez-Fernández. Non‑Motor Outcomes after STN-FUS for Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/non-motor-outcomes-after-stn-fus-for-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/non-motor-outcomes-after-stn-fus-for-parkinsons-disease/