Deep brain stimulation improves tremors in patients with Parkinson disease

This study compared the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in 2 regions of the brain, subthalamic (SN) and globus pallidus interna (GPI) to treat tremors in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers suggested that both treatments improved tremors equally in these patients.

PD is a chronic disease that affects brain cells. This disease is associated with symptoms such as tremors and impaired balance. Deep brain stimulation has been shown to be associated with decreased symptoms. This treatment involves the use of a medical device that sends electrical impulses to the brain. The most common brain sites for this are SN and GPI areas.  

Prior studies showed that SN-DBS is associated with greater medication reduction. However, it is not clear which DBS area would be more associated with tremor reduction.

The objective of this study was to investigate which brain area (SN or GPI) would be involved in reducing tremors using DBS. This study reviewed the results of 5 other studies including 489 patients.

Any kind of DBS, comparing to no DBS, was associated with improved symptom outcomes. However, no significant difference was seen between the two different areas of the brain, SN and GPI, used for DBS.

This study suggests that DBS improves tremors in patients with Parkinson disease, regardless of which area of the brain it stimulates.

The studies analyzed had different protocols.