Parkinson’s disease limits movement, independence, and quality of life. Previous studies have examined deep brain stimulation as a therapy for motor symptoms with positive patient-reported outcomes in moderate to severe disease.

In the study, “Five-Year Outcomes from Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus for Parkinson Disease,” published in JAMA Neurology, researchers conducted a prospective, randomized (3:1), 12-week double-blind, sham-controlled trial with a five-year open-label follow-up to evaluate long-term outcomes and safety of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for Parkinson disease.

Across 23 US movement disorder centers, 191 patients were implanted and randomized during the 12-week blinded phase, and 137 completed five-year follow-up, representing 72%. Mean age at consent was 60 years, with 73% male.