Hormonal regulators of food intake and weight gain in Parkinson's disease after subthalamic nucleus stimulation.
OBJECTIVES: Weight gain has been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS). To evaluate the influence of STN-DBS on weight changes, we studied food-related hormones.
DESIGN: Anthropometric parameters and food-related hormones (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, cortisol, insulin, and thyroid stimulating hormone) were measured in 27 patients with STN-DBS during a 12 month period following electrode implantation.
RESULTS: Besides marked motor improvements on STN-DBS, PD patients significantly gained weight. The mean weight gain at 12 months was 5.2±(SD)5.8 kg. A significant decrease in cortisol levels compared to baseline appeared at month 2 and persisted at 12 months (p<0.01, corrected), with no significant changes in other hormones tested.
CONCLUSIONS: Changes in peripheral food-related hormones do not appear to cause weight gain in PD patients. Direct effects of STN-DBS on hypothalamic catabolic/anabolic peptide balance remain hypothetical and necessitate further elucidation....
Citation
Novakova L, Haluzik M, Jech R, Urgosik D, Ruzicka F, Ruzicka E. Hormonal regulators of food intake and weight gain in Parkinson's disease after subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2011 Jan; 32(4): 437-441