Neuropsychologic assessment of patients with advanced Parkinson disease submitted to extradural motor cortex stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cognitive functioning and emotive state in 3 inpatients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) treated with extradural motor cortex stimulation (EMCS), an experimental neurosurgical procedure.


BACKGROUND
Studies on the neuropsychologic assessment of patients with PD after EMCS are in process. The procedure has been applied for some years as an experimental method for treating PD.


METHODS
A battery of neuropsychologic tests and emotive assessment scales were administered to 3 inpatients with PD 2 days before the intervention and then again after 1 year to evaluate changes in cognitive functioning and emotive state.


RESULTS
At 1-year postintervention, cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were steady; 2 patients showed a mild improvement in quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
In this patient group, EMCS, an experimental neurosurgical treatment, had a positive effect on motor symptoms. Neuropsychologic assessment after a 1-year follow-up period showed that cognitive functions had not changed with respect to baseline characteristics.
Munno
Donato
D
Neuroscience Department, Clinical Psychology Service, Neurosurgical Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. donato.munno@unito.it
Caporale
Silvia
S
Zullo
Giuseppina
G
Sterpone
Sara
S
Malfatto
Alessandro
A
Zeme
Sergio
S
Pagni
Carlo A
CA
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome