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. 2015 Jan;22(1):207-10.
doi: 10.1111/ene.12396. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation effects on odor identification in Parkinson's disease

M Fabbri  1 , L C Guedes, M Coelho, D Simão, D Abreu, M M Rosa, L Silveira-Moriyama, J J Ferreira
Affiliations

Subthalamic deep brain stimulation effects on odor identification in Parkinson's disease

M Fabbri et al. Eur J Neurol. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Olfactory dysfunction is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it is one of the earliest non-motor symptoms. A few studies have suggested that deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) could improve olfactory function. Our aim was to evaluate the acute effect of bilateral STN-DBS on a commonly used smell test in PD patients.

Methods: Fifteen PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS and 15 controls were recruited. Patients and controls were tested for odor identification.

Results: No statistical differences were documented between ON and OFF STN-DBS acute stimulation concerning olfaction. Controls presented a better performance for olfactory identification than patients.

Conclusions: Our exploratory study did not support that bilateral STN-DBS could have an acute effect on olfactory function in PD patients.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; deep brain stimulation; odor identification.

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