Objective: This study aims to explore the trajectory of non-motor symptom (NMS) changes in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients after bilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Background: PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. DBS, particularly targeting the STN, has been shown to significantly improve motor symptoms in PD patients. However, the effects of DBS on non-motor symptoms remain a focus of ongoing research.

Method: A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a survey of 189 patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) who met the criteria for bilateral STN-DBS therapy at the Department of Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, from September 2021 to July 2022. The patients were surveyed before the surgery, at 6 months after the surgery, and at 12 months after the surgery. The General Information Questionnaire, Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ-8) were used to assess the patients.

Results: Longitudinal changes in NMS: The overall change in NMSS total score  (Z=100.49; P＜0.001) and PDQ-8 score (Z=211.01; P＜0.05) after DBS was statistically significant. Among the NMSS dimensions, the overall change in (except for the digestive tract dimension), such as cardiovascular, sleep/fatigue, emotion/cognition, hallucinations/delusions, attention/memory, urinary system, sexual function, and other symptoms, was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Overall relative changes: the three non-motor symptoms with the most significant improvement 6 months after surgery were sexual function (81.25%), hallucinations/delusions (67.92%), and sleep/fatigue (66.67%), while the digestive symptoms had the smallest improvement (15.70%); The three non-motor symptoms with the most significant improvement 12 months after surgery were sexual function (92.90%), urinary system (81.24%), and hallucinations/delusions (73.21%), while the digestive symptoms had the smallest improvement (5.16%).

Conclusion: In addition to the improvement of motor symptoms, QOL and various NMSs in PD patients can be continuously relieved after DBS, especially in sleep/fatigue, emotional/cognitive, hallucinations/delusions, attention/memory, urinary system symptoms, sexual function.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-survey-on-the-changes-of-non-motor-symptoms-and-quality-of-life-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-after-bilateral-subthalamic-nucleus-deep-brain-stimulation/