INTREPID Trial Confirms Durable Motor Benefit, Medication Reduction With STN-DBS

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an established therapy for moderate to advanced Parkinson disease (PD), improving motor symptoms, dyskinesia, and quality of life (QOL). However, durability of benefit remains a key question given the progressive nature of PD. Objective: To evaluate 5-year safety and effectiveness of STN-DBS in moderate to advanced PD. Design/Participants: The INTREPID (Implantable Neurostimulator for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease) trial was a prospective, multicenter, randomized (3:1), double-blind, sham-controlled study conducted across 23 U.S. centers with a 5-year open-label extension. Patients had bilateral idiopathic PD with >5 years of symptoms and motor fluctuations. Methods: Patients underwent bilateral STN-DBS using a current-controlled system. Outcomes included motor function using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III), a measure of motor severity (higher scores worse more...