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. METHOD: 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.