Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

This trial explores the connection between brain signals and walking and balance issues in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will test various settings of deep brain stimulation (DBS), a therapy that sends electrical impulses to specific brain areas, to assess their impact on symptoms like freezing of gait (sudden inability to move the feet). Participants will perform tasks such as walking in a virtual reality setting to simulate real-world challenges. Candidates for this trial include those with Parkinson's disease who already use a Medtronic Percept DBS device and experience freezing of gait. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding and improving DBS therapy for Parkinson's.

Research has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) is generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease. One study found that DBS improved movement problems, such as tremors and stiffness, for many patients. However, some risks exist. The chance of permanent health issues, like bleeding in the brain, is about 1%. Serious events, including death, are rare but possible, as with any surgery.

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how different deep brain stimulation (DBS) conditions can impact Parkinson's disease symptoms. Unlike standard DBS treatments, which typically use a single, clinically optimized setting, this approach allows for multiple DBS conditions to be tested within the same individual. This trial uniquely combines real-world virtual reality tasks with detailed recordings of brain and movement data, offering a deeper understanding of how DBS can be more effectively tailored to improve mobility and quality of life for those with Parkinson's.

Research has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can greatly improve movement problems in people with Parkinson's disease. In one study, patients' movement abilities improved by 53% after two years of DBS treatment. Another study found that 75% of participants felt DBS helped them manage their symptoms well. DBS has reduced shaking, stiffness, and other movement issues. It is commonly used in medical practice and is considered a key treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease. In this trial, participants will undergo multi-condition DBS assessments to explore various stimulation paradigms and their effects on movement and neural activity. These findings suggest DBS can be a powerful tool in managing Parkinson's disease symptoms.⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰