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. 2025 Apr;28(3):472-483.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.05.007. Epub 2024 Jul 11.

How Long Does Deep Brain Stimulation Give Patients Benefit?

Esin Bulut  1 , P Mitchell Johansen  2 , Alya Elbualy  1 , Cheyenne Kalman  1 , Ryan Mayer  1 , Nicholas Kato  1 , Rodrigo Salmeron de Toledo Aguiar  1 , Julie G Pilitsis  3
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How Long Does Deep Brain Stimulation Give Patients Benefit?

Esin Bulut et al. Neuromodulation. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most common questions patients ask when they are contemplating deep brain stimulation (DBS) is how long it will last. To guide physicians in answering this query, we performed a scoping review to assess the current state of the literature and to identify the gaps that need to be addressed.

Materials and methods: The authors performed a MEDLINE search inclusive of articles from January 1987 (advent of DBS literature) to June 2023 including human and modeling studies written in English. For longevity of therapy data, only studies with a mean follow-up of ≥three years were included. Using the Rayyan platform, two reviewers (JP and RM) performed a title screen. Of the 734 articles, 205 were selected by title screen and 109 from abstract review. Ultimately, a total of 122 articles were reviewed. The research questions we explored were 1) how long can the different components of the DBS system maintain functionality? and 2) how long can DBS remain efficacious in treating Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), dystonia, and other disorders?

Results: We showed that patients with PD, ET, and dystonia maintain a considerable long-term benefit in motor scores seven to ten years after implant, although the percentage improvement decreases over time. Stimulation off scores in PD and ET show worsening, consistent with disease progression. Battery life varies by the disease treated and the programming settings used. There remains a paucity of literature after ten years, and the impact of new device technology has not been classified to date.

Conclusion: We reviewed existing data on DBS longevity. Overall, outcomes data after ten years of therapy are substantially limited in the current literature. We recommend that physicians who have data for patients with DBS exceeding this duration publish their results.

Keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Parkinson’s disease; devices; dystonia; essential tremor; implantable pulse generator; longevity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Julie G. Pilitsis reports a relationship with the National Institutes of Health that includes funding grants; a relationship with Medtronic that includes funding grants; a relationship with Boston Scientific Corp that includes funding grants; a relationship with Abbott Laboratories that includes funding grants; and a relationship with Aim Medical Robotics that includes consulting or advisory and equity or stocks. Rodrigo Salmeron de Toledo Aguiar reports a relationship with Medtronic that includes funding grants; a relationship with Abbott Laboratories that includes funding grants; and a relationship with Boston Scientific Corp that includes funding grants. The remaining authors reported no conflict of interest.

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