Can DBS help elderly individuals manage dystonia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 72 years old, and dystonia has gradually taken over more of my daily life. Medications help to some extent, but the side effects have been difficult to tolerate.

Can deep brain stimulation help older adults with dystonia at the age of 72?
Does age affect who qualifies for the procedure or how effective it is?
What is the recovery process really like for someone of my age?

I am afraid of undergoing brain surgery, but I am also concerned about spending the rest of my years limited by painful and disabling movements. I want to make a well-informed decision based on facts and medical advice rather than fear or desperation.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

At 72 years of age, a person is not automatically considered too old for deep-brain stimulation (DBS). Many individuals in their seventies undergo DBS successfully. Age alone is usually less important than overall health, memory, cognitive function, and the specific type of dystonia present.

DBS may help reduce involuntary muscle contractions, abnormal postures, pain, and disability, particularly when medications are no longer providing sufficient benefit or are causing troublesome side effects.

The degree of improvement varies from person to person and depends on factors such as the cause of the dystonia, its severity, and how long it has been present.

Recovery is generally gradual. After surgery, the device must be programmed and adjusted over several follow-up visits. For dystonia, the benefits often develop over weeks to months rather than immediately after the procedure.

As with any other brain surgery, DBS does come with certain risks of infection, stroke, confusion, bleeding, etc. However, one has to compare those risks against the permanent effect dystonia continues to have on one’s life and abilities.

If dystonia has been limiting one’s independence and/or comfort despite proper treatment, then DBS may very well be an option. The best way to find out if this therapy is right for you would be to consult with a movement disorders neurologist and DBS team.

The medications commonly used for dystonia may include Trihexyphenidyl, Baclofen, Clonazepam, or Botulinum toxin injections, depending on the type and severity of symptoms. If these treatments are no longer effective or are causing significant side effects, further evaluation for DBS may be appropriate.

I hope this is clear, and if you have any questions at any time, please feel free to ask.

Thank you.