Subthalamic stimulation has acute psychotropic effects and improves neuropsychiatric fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is a well-established treatment for motor complications in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms remain disputed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of STN-DBS on neuropsychiatric symptoms in PD. Methods: We retrospectively assessed 26 patients with PD who underwent a preoperative levodopa challenge and postoperative levodopa and stimulation challenges 1 year after STN-DBS. Based on the Neuropsychiatric Fluctuations Scale, Neuropsychiatric State Scores and Neuropsychiatric Fluctuation Indices (NFIs) were calculated. Mixed-effects models with random effects for intercept were used to examine the association of Neuropsychiatric State Score and NFI with the different assessment conditions. Results: In acute challenge conditions, there was an estimated increase of 15.9 points in the Neuropsychiatric State Score in stimulation ON conditions (95% CI 11.4 to 20.6, p<0.001) and 7.6 points in medication ON conditions (95% CI 3.3 to 11.9, p<0.001). Neuropsychiatric fluctuations induced by levodopa, quantified with NFI, decreased by 35.54% (95% CI 49.3 to 21.8, p<0.001) 1 year after STN-DBS. Conclusions: Bilateral STN-DBS at therapeutic parameters has acute psychotropic effects similar to levodopa and can modulate and decrease levodopa-induced neuropsychiatric fluctuations.

Deep Brain Stimulation: When to Test Directional?

Background: Directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) allows for steering of the stimulation field, but extensive and time-consuming testing of all segmented contacts is necessary to identify the possible benefit of steering. It is therefore important to determine under which circumstances directional current steering is advantageous. Methods: Fifty two Parkinson's disease patients implanted in the STN with a directional DBS system underwent a standardized monopolar programming session 5 to 9 months after implantation. Individual contacts were tested for a potential advantage of directional stimulation. Results were used to build a prediction model for the selection of ring levels that would benefit from directional stimulation. Results: On average, there was no significant difference in therapeutic window between ring-level contact and best directional contact. However, according to our standardized protocol, 35% of the contacts and 66% of patients had a larger therapeutic window under directional stimulation compared to ring-mode. The segmented contacts warranting directional current steering could be predicted with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 57%. Conclusion: To reduce time required for DBS programming, we recommend additional directional contact testing initially only on ring-level contacts with a therapeutic window of less than 2.0 mA.

Combining Multimodal Biomarkers to Guide Deep Brain Stimulation Programming in Parkinson Disease.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming of multicontact DBS leads relies on a very time-consuming manual screening procedure, and strategies to speed up this process are needed. Beta activity in subthalamic nucleus (STN) local field potentials (LFP) has been suggested as a promising marker to index optimal stimulation contacts in patients with Parkinson disease. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigate the advantage of algorithmic selection and combination of multiple resting and movement state features from STN LFPs and imaging markers to predict three relevant clinical DBS parameters (clinical efficacy, therapeutic window, side-effect threshold). MATERIALS AND METHODS: STN LFPs were recorded at rest and during voluntary movements from multicontact DBS leads in 27 hemispheres. Resting- and movement-state features from multiple frequency bands (alpha, low beta, high beta, gamma, fast gamma, high frequency oscillations [HFO]) were used to predict the clinical outcome parameters. Subanalyses included an anatomical stimulation sweet spot as an additional feature. RESULTS: Both resting- and movement-state features contributed to the prediction, with resting (fast) gamma activity, resting/movement-modulated beta activity, and movement-modulated HFO being most predictive. With the proposed algorithm, the best stimulation contact for the three clinical outcome parameters can be identified with a probability of almost 90% after considering half of the DBS lead contacts, and it outperforms the use of beta activity as single marker. The combination of electrophysiological and imaging markers can further improve the prediction. CONCLUSION: LFP-guided DBS programming based on algorithmic selection and combination of multiple electrophysiological and imaging markers can be an efficient approach to improve the clinical routine and outcome of DBS patients.

Reckless Generosity, Parkinson's Disease and Dopamine: A Case Series and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are a frequent side effect of dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Reckless generosity might expand the spectrum of known ICDs. CASES: Over 18 months, we encountered three PD patients exhibiting reckless generosity under DRT, leading to disastrous financial and social consequences. LITERATURE REVIEW: Except for another case series describing reckless generosity in three PD patients, only one study has examined generosity in PD patients; with findings suggesting that PD patients with ICDs are less sensitive to the aversive aspects of the lack of reciprocation in social settings. Studies with healthy individuals suggest that increased availability of dopamine might reduce social discounting and promote egalitarian behavior, and thereby increase generous behavior towards strangers. Genetic studies show that polymorphisms in dopamine D4 receptors influence generous behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Reckless generosity in PD patients with DRT might be underreported and should therefore be carefully be screened for by clinicians. A potential mechanism underlying this ICD-related behavior might be a sensitization of the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic system, leading to reduced social discounting and maladaptive reward-learning. Further research is needed to investigate the prevalence and underlying mechanisms of reckless generosity in PD patients.

Management of Impulse Control Disorders with Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs) and related disorders are common side effects of dopaminergic treatment in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and are associated with negative effects on mental and physical health, quality of life and interpersonal relationships. Current management options are limited, as a reduction of dopaminergic medication often leads to worsening of motor symptoms or dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome. The aim of this review was to investigate if ICDs improve, worsen, or remain stable after Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation (STN-DBS). We reviewed retrospective, prospective and randomized-controlled studies published between 2000 and 2019 examining the effect of STN-DBS on one or more ICDs. The number of participants, time of follow-up, methods used to measure ICDs, type of ICDs, the incidence of ICDs before STN-DBS, the incidence of improvement (remission or reduction) of ICDs after STN-DBS, the incidence of de novo ICDs after STN-DBS, stimulation parameters, lead position, change in motor score and change in medication are reported for each study. Available studies suggest that ICDs improve after STN-DBS in most patients and that persisting new-onset ICDs induced by STN-DBS are rare. However, more randomized-controlled studies are needed to confirm the findings and to further investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Effects of bilateral stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease with and without REM sleep behaviour disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with increased non-motor symptoms, its impact on the deep brain stimulation (DBS) outcome remains unclear. This is the first study to compare the post-DBS outcome between PD patients with RBD (PD-RBD+) and without (PD-RBD-). METHODS: We analysed data from PD patients who were treated with bilateral DBS in the nucleus subthalamicus. Assessments included night-polysomnography (only pre-DBS), and motor and non-motor assessments pre-DBS and post-DBS. RESULTS: Among 50 PD patients (29 males, mean age 62.5 years, 11.8 mean PD years), 24 (48%) had RBD. Pre-DBS, the two groups were equal in respect to sociodemographic features, disease duration and PD medications. A multivariate analysis showed that the clinical profile linked to motor, non-motor and quality of life features differed significantly between PD patients with and without RBD. The most discriminative elements were Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-III, apathy and depression scores. Post-DBS, UPDRS-III, Epworth sleepiness scale and PD questionnaire improved significantly in both groups. UPDRS-II scores significantly improved in the PD-RBD+ group (-45%) but remained unchanged in the PD-RBD- group (-14%). The depression score improved significantly in the PD-RBD+ (-34%) and remained unchanged in the PD-RBD- group. The apathy score remained unchanged in the PD-RBD+ group but increased significantly in the PD-RBD- group (+33%). CONCLUSION: While pre-DBS, PD patients with and without RBD showed different clinical profiles, post-DBS, the clinical profiles were comparable between the two groups. In respect to depressive symptoms, apathy and activities of daily living, PD-RBD+ patients show favourable post-DBS outcome. These findings highlight the importance of RBD assessment prior to DBS surgery.

Morphometric changes of sensorimotor structures in focal dystonia.

Idiopathic cervical dystonia (CD) and benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) are the most common forms of focal dystonia. Previous autopsy and imaging studies suggested that these disorders are not accompanied by structural brain abnormalities. However, recent brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies of these conditions suggest that there actually may be changes in gray matter. The objective of this stdy was to detect possible gray matter abnormalities in patients with CD and BEB using VBM and to compare the results between the two conditions and with age- and gender-matched controls. High-resolution MRI was employed to evaluate healthy controls and individuals with BEB and CD. Eleven BEB, 9 CD, and 14 healthy control subjects were imaged. VBM revealed alterations of gray matter structures involved in sensorimotor processing in the individuals with focal dystonia. In CD subjects there was increased gray matter in the thalamus, caudate head bilaterally, superior temporal lobe, and left cerebellum, while gray matter was decreased in the putamen bilaterally. BEB subjects had increased gray matter in the caudate head and cerebellum bilaterally as well as decrease in the putamen and thalamus bilaterally. These findings strongly underline the recent notion that idiopathic focal dystonias might have a detectable structural correlate. They also demonstrate structural similarities of the investigated focal dystonias, possibly reflecting a shared common pathophysiological origin.