STN-DBS outcomes in Parkinson´s disease: the influence of vascular, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory co-morbidities

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for late motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although DBS is generally a successful therapy, it has limitations including insufficient clinical effects and adverse side effects. The effect of DBS and disease progression is reflected by modulation of cerebral bioelectrical activity that can be measured by electrophysiological studies. The long-term clinical outcome for PD patients with DBS does not depend exclusively on the efficacy of the DBS therapy. Cardiovascular, vascular, metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities are frequent in elderly persons and may have a clinically relevant impact on clinical status in PD. Defining predictive biomarkers for DBS clinical outcomes would be useful for clinical practice. To obtain markers of clinical development, we will employ a holistic approach combining the study of the impact of DBS on whole brain connectivity with co-morbidities that may influence the clinical outcome in PD patients and are potentially treatable.