Using subcortical brain signals to guide DBS contact selection for Parkinson's

Assessing the Relation Between Subcortical LFPs and DBS Parameter Selection in Parkinson's Disease - a Prospective Study

University Hospital of Leuven Leuven · NCT07485621

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 typeObservational
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital of Leuven Leuven (other)
Locations1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant)
Trial IDNCT07485621 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

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.

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.

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 performed: 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.

Eligibility criteria

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 this trial is running

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Parkinson's Disease, Deep brain stimulation, Local field potentials, Parkinson's disease

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.