Optimizing Deep Brain Stimulation to Improve Visuomotor Function in Parkinson's Disease
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Inability to align and refocus the eyes on the objects at different depths, i.e., vergence impairment and strabismus, frequently affects the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. The investigators study aims to understand the location-specific effects of subthalamic region deep brain stimulation on vergence and strabismus by integrating the patient-specific deep brain stimulation models and high-resolution eye-tracking measures. The knowledge gained will allow the investigators to find the most beneficial stimulation location and parameters for improving binocular coordination, strabismus, and vergence while preserving the ability to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.
Description
The victims of very common condition Parkinson's disease (PD) are known to have tremor, rigidity, and slow movements. PD, in addition to its effects on human movements, also affects many other aspect of the brain's function. Impairment of vision is frequently seen in PD. These patients have difficulties with holding their eyes steady at a given point, seamlessly look around and read, and refocus their eyes from one image to the other while looking at objects that are at different depths. About third of the PD patients have problems coordinating the movement of two eyes together, i.e., abnormal…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Not specified
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Parkinson's disease with bilateral STN DBS * Availability of pre-operative MR images (with a T1-weighted, gradient-echo sequence) and ability to get post-operative MRI or CT scans * Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-4 when off medication, and a stable antiparkinsonian medication regimen and DBS parameter settings Exclusion Criteria: * Previous surgical therapy for Parkinson's disease (other than DBS) * Dementia * Clinically significant untreated depression or anxiety * Clinical features suggestive of atypical parkinsonism
Location
- Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OHCleveland, Ohio