I had DBS in January on the right side of the brain to correct a tremor in
the left hand that I had 35 years. The study I am in measured my memory
before and 3 months after the procedure. At the follow-up, I was close to
being 'optimally tuned'.

TESTING

The testing started with time and place questions like who is the governor
and what county are you in.

The number tests consisted of the tester reading a series of numbers and
having me repeat the series from memory. The number of digits in the numbers
became longer.

Another test consisted of me hearing a list of items and from memory
repeating the list. After the first list was completed a different set of
words was introduced and I repeated them from memory. Each one of the tests
were repeated several times.

After these word tests, I was asked to recall the list of words from the
first list.

Then I was asked to indicate with a yes or no whether the word said by the
tester was in the first list.

The next set of tests involved the tester reading a story and then I
repeated the story as exactly as I recalled. The story was repeated by the
tester and I was given the opportunity to retell it as I recalled.

Another story was introduced and I was given the opportunity to retell it as
accurately as possible. This was repeated.

The third part of the testing involved the tester asking questions, based on
the two stories, with two possible answers..with me giving the correct
response.

Another test which may be gender biased involved answering a question of
what could one find in a grocery store and also what could one find in a
vegetable department. All of these responses were recorded in a specific
time frame.

A set of flash card exercises was taken. With the flash cards, a picture
(graphic) was on each one. You had to identify them.

Another set of flash cards had similar symbols and you had to pick the
different one of the set of three or four symbols.

Another set of flash cards had a puzzle jumbled. You had to tell what the
object was.

Another set of flash cards contained a part of a picture like the spout of a
tea pot and you had to tell what it was.

Pre-DBS I had been unable to write (I write left-handed), let alone draw so
the follow-up included drawing complex diagrams, first, open book, and then
later from memory.

DISCUSSION:

In the eleven patient study on P-I-E-N-O, elderly men were reported to have
done poorly on the fruits part of their follow-up. This probably is more
gender based bias in this kind of test because elderly men do little of the
grocery shopping and have had a more spartan diet over the years so maybe
they have forgotten the names of fruits and vegetables.

http://parkinsons-information-exchange-network-online.com/archive/110.html

I did better not trying to read the tester's lips because there seems to be
an interferance in the memory process when one concentrates on visual fields
rather than turning aside and using the aureal feedback of the tester's
voice. I discovered this during the story telling portion of the tests.

My subjective analysis of my follow-up performance was that I did fantastic
and much better than before DBS. At follow-up though, you have 'studied' the
test before.

Parkinson's and essential tremor outcomes can be entirely different and it
all involves finding the correct 'optimal' tuning. Some with PD have had DBS
and not experienced symptomatic relief because of unrealistic expectations
and not knowing before hand that you will be living in the programmers
office until the correct program is found for you. I have some dear friends
that have given up and are back to titrating their meds on their own trying
to control dyskinesias and or/tremor.

Have DBS done close to your support base and don't have unrealistic
expections. DBS, under your neurologist's supervision, will result in the
lowering of PD meds and their resulting side-effects.

Next Wednesday, I am scheduled to have DBS on the left side of my brain.

Since I shave with both hands, I had a funny thing happen yesterday. While
shaving my chin with my shaky right hand, I got the razor in my mouth
somehow..:) I won't do that again...at least for long. :)

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