Molly Abbott, BM BCh, from King’s College London, discussed new data showing notable gender differences in mood and quality-of-life outcomes among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS). Anxiety and depression affect roughly 40% to 50% of patients with PD and are typically more prevalent in women. In a recent DBS cohort, women were underrepresented, reported lower preoperative social support, and had reduced quality of life. These findings, presented at the 4th Annual Advanced Therapeutics in Movement and Related Disorders Congress, highlight gaps in representation and support that may influence candidacy and outcomes.
Abbott emphasized the need for gender-aware DBS counseling and care pathways—addressing screening for mood disorders, bolstering social support, and setting expectations for pre- and postoperative experiences. She noted that the results should spur further research into the drivers of gender disparities in PD symptoms, referral patterns, and patient preferences, with the goal of improving access, shared decision-making, and long-term quality of life after DBS. Practical steps include routine pre-DBS screening with validated scales, proactive referral to mental health and social work, and auditing referral pathways to reduce bias.
Reference: Abbott M, Ciccone I. Gender Disparities in Mood and Quality of Life of Parkinson Disease After DBS. NeurologyLive. Published July 10, 2025. Accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.neurologylive.com/view/gender-disparities-mood-quality-of-life-pd-after-dbs-molly-abbott
Link: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/gender-disparities-mood-quality-of-life-pd-after-dbs-molly-abbott
