Comparison of neuropathology in Parkinson's disease subjects with and without deep brain stimulation

the Arizona Study of Aging Neurodegenerative Disorders

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The aim of this postmortem study was to compare, in Parkinson's disease subjects with and without bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS), the loss of pigmented neurons within the substantia nigra and pathological alpha-synuclein density within the SN and other brain regions. Methods: PD subjects were identified from the Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders database (STN-DBS = 11, non-DBS = 156). Pigmented neuron loss scores within the substantia nigra as well as alpha-synuclein density scores within the substantia nigra and 9 other brain regions were compared, the latter individually and in summary as the Lewy body brain load score. Results: DBS subjects had higher alpha-synuclein density scores within the substantia nigra, olfactory bulb, and locus ceruleus, as well as higher total Lewy body brain load scores when compared with non-DBS subjects. No differences in substantia nigra pigmented neuron loss scores were found. Conclusions: STN-DBS subjects tend to have higher alpha-synuclein density scores, but do not have a differential loss of substantia nigra pigmented neurons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)274-277
Number of pages4
JournalMovement Disorders
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2017

Keywords

  • Lewy body
  • Parkinson's disease
  • alpha-synuclein
  • deep brain stimulation
  • subthalamic nucleus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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