Imaging clues to how deep brain stimulation helps freezing of gait in Parkinson’s

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

People with advanced Parkinson’s who experience freezing of gait may benefit from deep brain stimulation, and this project uses diffusion MRI and fMRI to look at brain connections and how stimulation affects brain activity. By comparing responders and non-responders, researchers hope to identify brain pathways linked to better walking with STN-DBS. The study will recruit patients undergoing DBS surgery and collect imaging and behavioral data before and after stimulation. The goal is to find modifiable factors that improve STN-DBS outcomes for FOG.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Medical University of South Carolina
  Charleston, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Revuelta, Gonzalo Javier — Medical University of South Carolina
• Study coordinator: Revuelta, Gonzalo Javier

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Brain imaging to predict who will benefit from deep brain stimulation for freezing of gait

  Researchers will use advanced brain scans to find patterns that show which people with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait are likely to improve after subthalamic deep brain stimulation.

  NIH research Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, United States · NIH-11175257

• Understanding how brain stimulation affects walking in Parkinson's patients

  This study is looking at how deep brain stimulation can help people with advanced Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait, and it aims to understand how the brain's connections affect the treatment's success.

  NIH research Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, United States · NIH-10801555

• Using advanced brain stimulation to improve walking in patients with freezing of gait

  This study is testing a new way to help people with Parkinson's and similar conditions who experience freezing of gait, using a smart device that adjusts itself to help them move better and avoid falls.

  NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-10670150

• Personalized closed-loop treatment for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

  A new implantable brain device trial aims to reduce freezing of gait in people with Parkinson’s by using on-device brain signals to guide stimulation in real time.

  NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11424676

• Understanding movement transitions in Parkinson's disease and how cues help freezing of gait

  A study with people who have Parkinson's disease will explore why freezing of gait happens during movement changes and how external cues might help keep steps going.

  NIH research University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-11387870

• Feasibility of an AI-Driven Gait Freeze Detector to Trigger Pauses and Cues in Parkinson’s

  A small study tests an AI system that detects when a person with Parkinson’s is about to freeze and gives a cue only at that moment to help them keep walking.

  NIH research Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11354931

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.