Investigating how deep brain stimulation affects ankle muscle control in Parkinson's disease
Official title: EFFECTS OF DISEASE AND PALLIDAL DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION ON ANKLE MUSCLE CONTROL IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10929394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how deep brain stimulation can help people with Parkinson's disease better control their ankle muscles, which may improve their walking and reduce stiffness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $48,618 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HD112086-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10929394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who experience gait disturbances and mobility issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not have significant gait or mobility problems may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the effects of deep brain stimulation on ankle muscle control in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It aims to explore the mechanisms behind impaired control of lower limb muscles, particularly the differences in strength between flexor and extensor muscles. By using techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation, the study will assess how these muscles contribute to gait and rigidity issues in patients. The findings could lead to improved treatment strategies for managing gait deficits in Parkinson's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better therapeutic approaches for improving mobility and reducing falls in patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that deep brain stimulation can improve certain motor functions in Parkinson's disease, but this specific investigation into ankle muscle control is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lecy, Emily Elizabeth — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Lecy, Emily Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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
A small, energy-efficient brain-stimulation system using lightweight AI runs on an implanted device to adapt DBS in real time for people with Parkinson's disease.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.