Deep brain stimulation to improve visual search in Parkinson’s disease
Official title: Deep brain stimulation for optimal visual search strategy in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11300391 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A brain stimulation approach is explored to help people with Parkinson’s find things more easily in their surroundings by improving how they visually search and scan the environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RD001580-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300391 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who are candidates for or have existing deep brain stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PD or those not eligible for DBS may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Parkinson’s disease often affects how people look around and scan their environment, making tasks like driving or reading harder. This grant explores deep brain stimulation of a brain region called the subthalamic nucleus to influence higher-level visual processing and eye movements during visual search. The study focuses on how stimulation could enhance strategic, context-based visual thinking and reduce clutter-related challenges in everyday activities. By understanding the link between brain circuits and visual navigation, the research aims to bring new options for improving daily function in PD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience safer and more efficient visual navigation in daily life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows DBS can improve motor symptoms; its effects on complex visual navigation are less established and this study tests that potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaikh, Aasef G — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Shaikh, Aasef G
Related research
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Adaptive deep brain stimulation to help Parkinson's patients respond to daily changes
A new, smarter brain stimulation approach for Parkinson’s disease aims to automatically adjust therapy throughout the day to better control symptoms.
-
TinyML-powered closed-loop DBS for Parkinson's disease
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Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease
A safety-focused study tests a new brain-stimulation device that could tailor therapy for people with Parkinson’s by adapting stimulation based on brain signals and sleep stages.
-
Theta Burst Deep Brain Stimulation for Cognitive and Motor Benefits in Parkinson’s-Related Dementia
A study from USC will test a new brain stimulation approach to help people with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia improve thinking skills and movement.
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Spatiotemporal Tuning of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
Aims to personalize deep brain stimulation by adjusting where and when the brain is stimulated to better control Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Understanding sleep problems in Parkinson’s disease using at-home brain recordings and adaptive stimulation
Scientists are testing how brain signals during sleep relate to sleep problems in Parkinson’s and whether a special DBS device at home can improve sleep by adapting stimulation.
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.