Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Weight and body mass index in Parkinson's disease patients after deep brain stimulation surgery.

Tuite PJ, Maxwell RE, Ikramuddin S, Kotzd CM, Billingtond CJ, Laseski MA, Thielen SD

Department of Neurology, Fairview-University Medical Center, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. kotzx004@umn.edu

A retrospective chart review characterizing changes in 17 male and 10 female Parkinson's disease (PD) patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery indicated that 6 mo before surgery, patients lost a mean of 5.1 lbs, whereas in the 6 mo after surgery, subjects gained a mean of 10.1 lbs; 22% gained more than 14 lbs. In 10 patients followed an additional 6 mo, weight gain continued. This weight gain may be associated with decreased energy expenditure due to subsidence of chronic tremor. The magnitude of gain underscores the need for proactive management of body weight in PD patients undergoing DBS.

Published 9 May 2005 in Parkinsonism Relat Disord, 11(4): 247-52.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Parkinson's Disease Research Today. All Rights Reserved.