Study of How Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Affects Visual Attention and Freezing of Gait in Parkinsons Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how deep brain stimulation DBS targeting the subthalamic nucleus STN in people with Parkinsons disease affects attention and visuospatial skills. The study focuses on understanding how changes in visual attention relate to freezing of gait FOG, a disabling symptom with no reliable treatment. Recent findings suggest that stimulating the right side of the brain may improve FOG, as the right hemisphere plays a key role in visual attention. Participants will undergo DBS adjustments where the stimulation is turned off sequentially on each side of the brain. One group will start with the left STN-DBS on and right STN-DBS off, then switch the other group will begin with the right STN-DBS on and left STN-DBS off, then switch. These adjustments will occur during assessments of cognitive function and FOG to evaluate the impact of lateralized stimulation. During the study, participants will be assessed on visuospatial attention and freezing of gait using specific cognitive tasks such as the Flanker and Go-No-Go tests. Researchers will observe how turning off each side of the DBS affects these functions and measure correlations between changes in attention and FOG. The study includes detailed safety monitoring and aims to characterize the relationship between STN-DBS laterality and gait freezing over the study period.

Correlation of STN-DBS Induced Visuospatial Changes and Freezing of Gait