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Finding stimulation settings for balance and walking problems

Researchers study a computer-guided approach to adjusting implanted brain stimulators in people with Parkinson’s.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: NCT05893186

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

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Start (reported actual date)
2021-05-25
Main measurements finished (planned)
2029-07-15
Study finished (planned)
2029-12-31

Planned dates can move. A study finishing does not tell us when a paper will be published.

No results summary has been confirmed in the registry records we imported. See connected papers below; we keep checking after recruitment ends.

Changes we have recorded
  • 2026-10-11 — recruiting

These are dates we observed a change, not necessarily the dates it happened.

Papers connected to this study

No connected paper has been found yet. The tracker checks the growing library for study identifiers and registry-linked publications.

Who can join?

Ages 18 years to 89 years · Does not accept healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of PD * Bilateral DBS * Directional DBS electrode system * MRI, at least 7 Tesla, with diffusion tensor imaging, prior to DBS surgery * Head CT, at least 1mm cuts, following DBS surgery * At least 3 months since initial activation of the neurostimulator Exclusion Criteria: * Neurological or musculoskeletal disorder that significantly affects gait, balance, or limb movements * Dementia * Prior stereotactic neurosurgery other than DBS for movement disorder * Pregnancy
Full study name & original research details

Official study title

Multiple Objective Particle Swarm Optimization Postural Instability Gait Disorder

Original description

Sixty patients will be enrolled in this study who are treated for Parkinson's disease (PD) with bilateral deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus (GP), who have a pre- operative 7 Tesla MRI including diffusion tensor imaging for tractography and a postoperative head CT for electrode localization, and in whom at least 3 months have passed since activation of their neurostimulators, for stabilization of clinical stimulator settings. Using their MRI and CT, the investigators will construct patient-specific models of electrical current spread to neuroanatomical tar- gets surrounding the electrode. Then applying nonlinear (particle swarm) optimization, patient- specific stimulator settings will be designed to maximally or minimally activate specific path- ways. In STN DBS: pedunculopallidal vs. pallidopeduncular pathways. In GP DBS: pallidopeduncular pathways at its origin in GP pars interna (GPi) vs. inhibitory afferents to GPi (from GP pars externa GPe). All stimulation falls within the the FDA-approved range for DBS for PD.

Further description from the registry

Patients will undergo on-label DBS for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, at stimulator settings different from their usual settings, but within the FDA-approved range for this indication, based on patient specific models that identify stimulation settings that most selectively target one pathway over other adjacent pathways. In Aim 1 (STN DBS), the comparison will be amongst settings that selectively target pedunculopallidal, pallidopeduncular and subthalamopallidal pathways. In Aim 2 (GP DBS), the comparison will be amongst settings which selectively target the pallidopeduncular pathways at its origin in GP pars interna (GPi), inhibitory afferents to GPi (from GP pars externa GPe), and pallidosubthalamic pathway (from GPe). Total time, including both test stimulation and off-stimulation time, will be about 6 hours for Arm 1, and about 5 hours for Arm 2. Testing will include quantitative measures of gait, balance, bradykinesia, and rigidity.

Conditions reported: Parkinson Disease

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

Study type
Interventional
Interventions
Deep Brain Stimulation, STN; GP Deep Brain Stimulation
Phases
EARLY_PHASE1
Sponsor
University of Minnesota
Start date reported by registry
2021-05-25 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-05-08 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-05

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-11 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

Johanna Caskey, BA · 763-353-9470 · caske039@umn.edu

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Recruiting

Johanna Caskey, BA · 763-353-9470 · caske039@umn.edu

Scott Cooper, MD, PhD

Facility not reported

United States

Status not reported

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.