Objective: This study investigates the impact of conventional (cDBS) and adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) on systemic oxidative stress (OxS) and inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), assessing key biomarkers to explore their potential neuroprotective role.

Background: OxS and neuroinflammation contribute significantly to PD progression, exacerbating neuronal degeneration. The emergence of aDBS, which dynamically adjusts stimulation in response to physiological signals, represents an evolution from the continuous delivery of cDBS. Understanding how these stimulation modalities differentially influence systemic oxidative and inflammatory responses is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Method: Eight PD patients (5 males, 3 females; mean age 57.1±7.9 years; mean disease duration 12.4±3.2 years) participated in a randomized cross-over study comparing cDBS and aDBS. Blood samples were collected at baseline and during “on” and “off” stimulation states for both modalities. Biomarker analysis included reactive oxygen species (ROS) measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and transthyretin (TTR) assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and thiol redox status evaluated through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each stimulation protocol was applied for 8 hours under standardized conditions.

Results: No significant changes in OxS biomarkers were observed (p > 0.05). ROS levels and TAC values remained stable across conditions, and thiol redox status showed no alterations. However, IL-6 levels exhibited a 34% reduction during cDBS “on” versus “off,” whereas aDBS resulted in a 13% increase. Similarly, TTR decreased by 34% in cDBS “on” compared to “off” but increased by 10% in aDBS “on” versus “off”.

Conclusion: DBS did not significantly impact oxidative stress markers. However, the opposing IL-6 and TTR responses between cDBS and aDBS suggest distinct mechanisms regulating inflammation and vascular homeostasis. The observed TTR variations may reflect its involvement in vascular responses to DBS. These findings highlight the need for longitudinal studies to better understand the role of DBS in oxidative stress modulation and its implications for neuroprotection in PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-conventional-and-adaptive-deep-brain-stimulation-on-systemic-oxy-inflammation-in-parkinsons-disease/