Comprehensive Summary
This study looks into Parkinson’s Disease and its autonomic symptoms. Deep brain stimulation is an established, well-researched treatment that can help reduce motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease; however, its effect on autonomic symptoms is not well known. The JBI Population, Concept, and Context framework was used to develop questions to evaluate the effectiveness of DBS in relieving symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, including: What kinds of prior studies were conducted? What characteristics and various physiologies and pathologies are available in the literature? Which areas are less studied? How can these less-studied areas be alleviated through future studies? As for results, fifty-seven studies met the criteria. In conclusion, subthalamic nucleus DBS (STN-DBS) was shown to be potentially beneficial for GI symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, outcomes such as EGG and glucose metabolism were used in only a small number of studies. As for respiratory, thermoregulatory, and urinary outcomes, additional studies were also needed to see the effects of STN-DBS. Further studies are required to determine which GI areas can respond best to STN-DBS.
Outcomes and Implications
Further studies on STN-DBS will help alleviate autonomic symptoms, which are very prevalent in Parkinson’s Disease. Using better study design, standardized measures, and efficient symptom recording, studies of DBS for non-motor symptoms will further establish its role in therapies beyond controlling motor symptoms.