Safety and Tolerability of Neurostimulation in Early Stage Parkinson's Disease
Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (B-STN DBS) is one of the most effective surgical treatments for PD patients suffering from levodopa-induced motor complications. The relatively low incidence of permanent adverse effects and the potential for neuroprotection and alteration of the natural course of PD suggest a highly favorable benefit-to-risk ratio of this procedure. Since neuroprotection is best applied early in the disease course when there are more surviving neurons, we believe that further investigation of this procedure is warranted. The proposed pilot study will provide the necessary data to substantiate the safety and tolerability of the procedure as well as provide data for the design of a full-scale, multicenter trial to investigate the hypothesis that B-STN DBS is a safe and effective treatment to slow the progression of PD.
• Patients must have a clinical diagnosis of probable idiopathic PD.
• Demonstrated response to dopaminergic therapy, defined as demonstrating at least 30% improvement in parkinsonian motor signs, based upon the UPDRS motor examination subscore, following the administration of their dopamine agonist (DA) drug(s) during the screening neurological examination.
• Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage II when OFF medication.
• No contraindications to surgery.
• Age between 50 and 75 years old.
• Available for follow-up for four years.
• Informed Consent: The subject understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the study procedures and participation in the study.
• MRI within normal range for age.
• Levodopa or dopamine agonist therapy for greater than six months but less than or equal to four years.