Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Frequency Effects on Gait in Parkinson's Disease(PD)

Vanderbilt University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Parkinson Disease

Treatments: Procedure: Frequency change to 130 Hz; Procedure: Frequency change to 60 Hz

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00993291

090873

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study the investigators will evaluate the effect of both low and high frequency Deep Brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's patients who have noted a change in their walking. The investigators' hypothesis is:

1. Stimulation at 60 Hertz (Hz) is associated with improved gait with increased stride length and faster time on the Stand walk sit test.
2. There is no worsening of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) at 60 Hz.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Be a patient at the Vanderbilt Movement Disorders clinic.
• Report a change in their gait.
• Be able to walk independently when off PD medications for 12-16 hours.
• Have a stable dose of PD medications for the prior three months .
• Not cognitively impaired, so as to give informed consent.
• MMSE > 24.

Exclusion criteria

• See inclusion criteria.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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20 participants in 1 patient group

Baseline frequency

No Intervention group

Description:

Baseline DBS frequency

Treatment:

Procedure: Frequency change to 60 Hz

Procedure: Frequency change to 130 Hz