Using subcortical brain signals to guide DBS contact selection for Parkinson's
Official title: Assessing the Relation Between Subcortical LFPs and DBS Parameter Selection in Parkinson's Disease - a Prospective Study
Run by University Hospital of Leuven Leuven · NCT07485621 · Data updated 2026-11-12
It will test whether local field potential (LFP) recordings can help pick the best deep brain stimulation contact for people with Parkinson's disease during routine hospital visits.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital of Leuven Leuven Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 2029 |
| Study ends | March 2029 |
| Registry record updated | March 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07485621 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who have been judged eligible for DBS and who understand Dutch or French are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People who are not DBS candidates, have atypical parkinsonism, or cannot participate in Dutch or French are unlikely to benefit from the LFP-based approach tested here.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational project collects subcortical local field potential (LFP) recordings that are already part of routine clinical care to see if signal patterns align with clinically optimized DBS contact choices. No experimental interventions are added; data are compared to the contacts chosen through standard clinical programming. The aim is to determine whether an LFP-informed rule could reproduce or predict the contact selected after clinical optimization. Participants are adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who are eligible for DBS and able to communicate in Dutch or French at University Hospitals Leuven.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, LFP-guided contact selection could shorten programming time and help personalize DBS settings to improve symptom control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous exploratory work has shown promising correlations between subcortical LFP features (for example beta-band activity) and optimal DBS parameters, but large confirmatory studies are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Voluntary written informed consent of the participant 2. At least 18 years of age at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF) 3. Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease according to the clinical diagnostic criteria of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) 4. Eligible for DBS to treat refractory PD motor symptoms, as based on multidisciplinary DBS screening 5. Have sufficient understanding of the Dutch and French language to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * /
Where it's running
-
University Hospitals Leuven
Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Bart Swinnen, MD, PhD
- Email: bart.swinnen@uzleuven.be
- Phone: 0032 16343044
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Automated language analysis to help diagnose neurodegenerative diseases
A multilingual AI-powered language test is being tried to see if speech and language patterns can help differentiate Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and Parkinson’s from healthy aging.
-
Brain alpha-synuclein PET imaging in Parkinson's patients and healthy seniors
This open-label study tests a radioactive tracer called [18F]MK-0947 to see how it behaves in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease compared with healthy elderly volunteers.
-
Parkinson’s self-sufficiency and rehabilitation in a Czech spa setting
This intervention tests whether a Czech self-sufficiency test can be used with people with Parkinson’s disease and sees how spa-based rehabilitation affects independence, cognition, balance, and walking.
-
Imaging PD progression with [18F]AV-133 using high- and standard-resolution PET
This study tests how [18F]AV-133 PET imaging changes over 12 months in people with Parkinson's disease and a small group of healthy controls.
-
Microelectrode-based brain stimulation for Parkinson’s and essential tremor
This early feasibility test checks a new microelectrode-based brain stimulation method in adults with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor who are already getting deep brain stimulation implants.
-
Sleep and adaptive DBS in Parkinson’s disease
This study tests whether adjusting adaptive deep brain stimulation during sleep can improve sleep quality and brain activity in people with Parkinson’s disease who already have DBS.
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.