Dual frequency stimulation for improving Parkinson's disease symptoms
Official title: Dual Frequency, Dual Region Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Parkinson's Disease
Run by University of California, Davis · NCT04650932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a new way of combining two types of brain stimulation can help people with advanced Parkinson's disease feel better while reducing side effects from standard treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, Davis Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sacramento, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 22, 2022 |
| Main results expected | December 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT04650932 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who have been implanted with the Boston Scientific VerciseTM DBS system for at least 3 months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant cognitive or physical impairments that limit their ability to participate in cognitive testing may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of combining low frequency stimulation (LFS) of the ventral subthalamic nucleus (STN) with standard high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the dorsal STN in patients with Parkinson's disease. The aim is to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of this dual stimulation approach, which may help mitigate cognitive side effects associated with traditional DBS therapy. Participants must have previously undergone DBS implantation and be diagnosed with advanced Parkinson's disease. The study will evaluate cognitive control and other cognitive processes during stimulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance cognitive function in patients with Parkinson's disease while still providing motor symptom relief.
How similar studies have gone: While deep brain stimulation is a well-established treatment for Parkinson's disease, the specific combination of dual frequency stimulation is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals who are 18 years and older * Individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who previously underwent implantation with the Boston Scientific VerciseTM DBS system * Individuals who have been implanted with the Boston Scientific VerciseTM DBS system for at least 3 months * Individuals diagnosed with advanced PD who had bilateral dorsal subthalamic nucleus DBS surgery, as standard of care for motor improvement, with distal contacts of the electrodes implanted into the ventral STN Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals unable to provide consent and/or lack capacity to consent * Individuals diagnosed with any cognitive or physical impairments that would limit their ability to participate in the cognitive testing * Individuals who score below 15 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test-Blind * Individuals who score above 20 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale * Pregnant women (note: pregnant women are not candidates for DBS surgery), and prisoners * Non-English speaking individuals. Cognitive tasks will only be conducted in English.
Where it's running
-
UC Davis Health
Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kiarash Shahlaie, MD, PhD — University of California, Davis
- Study coordinator: Kiarash Shahlaie, MD, PhD
- Email: krshahlaie@ucdavis.edu
- Phone: 916-703-5505
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.