University of California, Los Angeles
Freezing of gait - the inability to start or continue walking - is a particularly disabling problem in Parkinson's disease that has few treatment options. This project records human brain activity from deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices during walking and freezing of gait episodes to understand the pathophysiology of freezing of gait. Findings will lay the foundation for the development of new treatment strategies that address this disabling symptom.
The pathophysiology of FOG is poorly understood, likely contributing to disappointing results of novel neuromodulation strategies. The goal of this study is to identify electrophysiological mechanisms of FOG that can serve as biomarkers for novel neuromodulation strategies. Activity in the globus pallidus internus (GPi), the major output nucleus of the basal ganglia, is central to understanding basal ganglia contributions to gait impairment, as it provides insights into activity that downstream locomotor circuits read out from the basal ganglia. The project leverages a state-of-the-art multimo…
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients meeting the MDS clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease who are implanted with a Medtronic Percept DBS Device and SenSight Directional Leads in bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi). * Able to walk unassisted indoors * Age 18 or older * Half of patients will have disabling freezing of gait as defined by freezing more than once per day by self-report on questions 1 \& 2 of the New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire * The other half of patients will not have freezing of gait as defined by self-report on question 1 of the New Freezing of Gait Questionna…
Walking overground in immersive virtual reality (VR) environments that provoke freezing episodes
Walking overground with and without concomitant performance of secondary cognitive or motor task
Walking overground in immersive virtual reality (VR) environments that provoke freezing episodes with and without addition of visual and auditory cues.
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