Medical University of South Carolina
The purpose of this research is to determine how deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease affects attention and visuospatial function. Additionally, this study will evaluate how deficits in visual attention are associated with freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease. There is currently no reliable treatment for FOG and little is understood about the underlying reason this occurs. Some recent research has found that stimulating the right side of the brain seems to improve FOG. The right side of the brain is also paramount for visual attention, which is why investigators are conducting this study.
FOG is a common and frequently disabling symptom of PD, affecting more than half of all PwPD. It remains a complex and incompletely understood phenomenon, with no currently approved therapies. FOG is often exacerbated during dual-tasks where attention is divided to multiple tasks. A well known method of provoking FOG by PwPD and neurologists alike is to walk through doorways or through a crowded space, regions where spatial attention is necessary. Similarly, significant visuospatial attention deficits have been found in PwPD who freeze compared to those do not. Further evidence demonstrates th…
Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects above 18 years of age * Subjects with freezing of gait * Subjects with bilateral STN-DBS surgery as part of their clinical care for Parkinson's disease Exclusion Criteria: * Uncorrected visual or hearing impairments, as indicated by self-report * Individuals who are pregnant or expect to become pregnant during the course of the study * Individuals with dementia or relevant brain lesions impacting cognition or gait
There will not be any change to baseline DBS stimulation settings, only each side will be sequentially turned off during cognitive and freezing of gait assessments.
There will not be any change to baseline DBS stimulation settings, only each side will be sequentially turned off during cognitive and freezing of gait assessments.
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