A systematic review presented at the MDS 2021 virtual congress has highlighted the importance of making a genetic diagnosis of dystonia before considering the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Dr Harini Sarva from Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA, and colleagues from other centers in the USA, Brazil, and Spain, noted that while the cause of dystonia is often unknown, genetic mutations are becoming increasingly recognized as an underlying cause.
DBS is currently a good option for most generalized or segmental primary dystonia. The benefits are well documented for early onset isolated dystonia (DYT1), but little is known about the potential benefits in other forms of genetic dystonia.