Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Apr;22(2):125-129.
doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1603466. Epub 2017 Jun 5.

The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation on the Quality of Life and Swallowing in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

Maira Rozenfel Olchik  1 , Marciéle Ghisi  2 , Annelise Ayres  3 , Arthur Francisco Shumacher Schuh  4 , Paulo Petry Oppitz  5 , Carlos Roberto de Mello Rieder  6   7
Affiliations

The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation on the Quality of Life and Swallowing in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

Maira Rozenfel Olchik et al. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is little evidence regarding the effect of DBS on dysphagia. Objective To assess the swallowing and quality of life of individuals with PD before and after DBS surgery. Methods Our sample consisted of people who had undergone DBS surgery in a referral hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of PD and having undergone DBS surgery. A cognitive screening, through a questionnaire about depression and quality of life, was conducted. Evaluations of each patient's swallowing were performed before and after surgery. The assessment consisted of anamnesis, clinical assessment, the Functional Oral Intake Scale, clinical evaluation of swallowing, and the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Results The sample included 10 individuals, all male, with a mean age of 57.3 years (±4.7), a mean disease duration of 13.0 years (±2.4), and mean level education of 8.1 years (±4.0). In the clinical evaluation of the swallowing, a significant improvement after DBS was not observed. However, little changes in the signs and symptoms of dysphagia that had a positive impact on the quality of life were observed. Furthermore, there was no relation between the patients' motor subtype and swallowing pre- and post-DBS. Conclusion There was an improvement in the quality of life of the patients after DBS. However, the improvement in the clinical signs and symptoms of dysphagia did not cause an overall improvement in the swallowing function.

Keywords: deep brain stimulation; neurology; parkinson's disease; speech therapy; swallowing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of cognitive assessment, depression, and quality of life pre- and post-DBS. Abbreviations: BDI, beck depression inventory; PDQ, Parkinson disease questionnaire; MMSE, mini mental state examination; MOCA, Montreal cognitive assessment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kulneff L, Sundstedt S, Olofsson K et al.Deep brain stimulation - effects on swallowing function in Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurol Scand. 2013;127(05):329–336. - PubMed
    1. Weaver F M, Follett K, Stern M et al.Bilateral deep brain stimulation vs best medical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2009;301(01):63–73. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kitashima A, Umemoto G, Tsuboi Y, Higuchi M A, Baba Y, Kikuta T. Effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on the swallowing function of patients with Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013;19(04):480–482. - PubMed
    1. Gasperim A Z, Jurkiewicz A L, Marques J M, Santos R S, Marcelino P CO, Junior F H. Deglutição e Tosse nos Diferentes Graus da Doença de Parkinson. Arq Int Otorrinolaringol. 2011;15:181–188.
    1. Liszbinski R B, Sulczewski F B, Stefani D FV, Coelho F H. Revista Contexto & Saúde; 2011. Doença de Parkinson: o fenótipo em idosos; p. 10.