Deep brain stimulation tailored to brain circuits for Parkinson's
Circuit-based deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease
This project uses deep brain stimulation aimed at specific brain circuits to help people with Parkinson’s disease improve movement and thinking problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162394 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors will record brain activity from areas such as the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus while you rest and perform movement and thinking tasks. They will compare how your brain and symptoms respond to different treatments, including DBS, levodopa, and the combination of both, and use new sensing devices (Percept) to link brain signals to problems like gait or freezing. MRI-based computer models and functional brain scans will be used to map the pathways that change with stimulation. Complementary lab work in non-human primates will study the circuit changes behind cognitive-motor symptoms to help interpret the human findings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Parkinson's disease who have troublesome motor symptoms, gait dysfunction, or whose symptoms are not fully controlled by levodopa and who are candidates for DBS are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with very early or mild Parkinson's not considered for DBS, those with other non-Parkinson movement disorders, or those with severe dementia are less likely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more precise DBS settings that better reduce movement and gait problems while protecting thinking skills.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional DBS has helped many people with Parkinson's, but using brain-circuit signals to tailor stimulation is a newer approach that is promising but still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vitek, Jerrold L — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Vitek, Jerrold L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.