Brain Morphometry Associated With Response to Levodopa and Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease

Whether treatment response in patients with Parkinson disease depends on brain atrophy is insufficiently understood. The goal of this study is to identify specific atrophy patterns associated with response to dopaminergic therapy and deep brain stimulation.

In this study, we analyzed the association of gray matter brain atrophy patterns, as identified by voxel-based morphometry, with acute response to levodopa (N = 118) and subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (N = 39). Motor status was measured as a change in points on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III score. Baseline values were obtained before surgery, after cessation of dopaminergic medication for at least 12 hours; response to medication was assessed after administration of a standardized dose of levodopa. Response to deep brain stimulation was measured three months after surgery in the clinical condition after withdrawal of dopaminergic medication.

Although frontoparietal brain gray matter loss was associated with subpar response to deep brain stimulation, there was no significant link between brain atrophy and response to levodopa.

We conclude that response to deep brain stimulation relies on gray matter integrity; hence, gray matter loss may present a risk factor for poor response to deep brain stimulation and may be considered when making decision regarding clinical practice.