Targeted brain stimulation to help thinking and movement in Parkinson's disease
Neurostimulation of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert for the cognitive-motor syndrome in Parkinson's disease
This project uses patterned deep brain stimulation of a memory-related brain area to help people with Parkinson's disease who have early thinking and movement problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172620 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited before dementia develops, and researchers will use advanced brain imaging (tractography) to map the best fiber pathways in the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert for stimulation. Specialized DBS leads will be placed using those maps, and intermittent patterned stimulation will be delivered using Boston Scientific's Chronos system under an Investigational Device Exemption. The UG3 phase focuses on testing feasibility, optimizing lead location and the volume of tissue activated, and translating the patterned stimulation approach into a first-in-human format. If feasible, the program will proceed to later phases to measure effects on cognition and cognitive-motor function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Parkinson's disease who have mild cognitive impairment or early cognitive-motor symptoms but do not have dementia and are medically eligible for DBS surgery.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, non-Parkinson's causes of cognitive decline, or those who cannot undergo brain surgery are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow or stabilize cognitive decline and improve thinking-plus-movement function in people with early Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical and animal studies suggest intermittent NBM stimulation can help, but this represents a first-in-human application of this specific patterned stimulation to that target.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bronte-Stewart, Helen — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Bronte-Stewart, Helen
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.