Activity-dependent adaptive deep brain stimulation improves gait in Parkinson’s disease - Report - MDSpire

Activity-dependent adaptive deep brain stimulation improves gait in Parkinson’s disease

  • By

  • Stefano Scafa

  • Valeria de Seta

  • Ruijia Wang

  • Paula Sánchez López

  • Andrea Sánchez López

  • Camille Varescon

  • Icare Sakr

  • Nadia Bérard

  • Lea Bole-Feysot

  • Céline Deschenaux

  • Ian Enderli

  • Yohann Thenaisie

  • Morgane Burri

  • Frédéric Merlos

  • Vanessa Fleury

  • Benoit Wicki

  • Ettore Accolla

  • Andria Tziakouri

  • Cécile Hübsch

  • Mayte Castro Jiménez

  • Julien F. Bally

  • Alessandro Puiatti

  • Kyuhwa Lee

  • Henri Lorach

  • Antoine Collomb-Clerc

  • Jocelyne Bloch

  • Eduardo M. Moraud

  • June 15, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Enhances Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Overview

This study demonstrates that adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) tailored to individual locomotor activities significantly improves gait function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). By utilizing real-time physiological data from the subthalamic nucleus (STN), the therapy addresses therapy-resistant locomotor deficits effectively.

Background

Parkinson's disease is associated with severe locomotor deficits that often remain unresponsive to standard treatments, including deep brain stimulation (DBS). Up to 90% of patients experience therapy-resistant impairments that increase fall risk and diminish quality of life. Optimizing DBS parameters to address these specific deficits is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Data Highlights

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Key Findings

  • Adaptive DBS (aDBS) can be personalized to enhance gait function in PD patients.
  • Real-time STN dynamics can be decoded to inform activity-dependent stimulation strategies.
  • 35 individuals with advanced PD were enrolled, confirming the prevalence of locomotor impairments.
  • Conventional DBS parameters often fail to alleviate gait deficits and may worsen symptoms.
  • Machine learning techniques were employed to optimize stimulation based on individual mobility activities.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider the implementation of adaptive DBS strategies to address locomotor deficits in patients with Parkinson's disease. Personalized stimulation based on real-time physiological data may enhance patient outcomes and reduce the risk of falls.

Conclusion

The findings support the potential of adaptive DBS as a viable therapeutic option for improving gait function in Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment approaches.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Nature Medicine, 2026 -- Adaptive deep brain stimulation for dynamic gait control in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized feasibility trial
  2. Brain, 2026 -- The Relationship Between Motor Function, Cortical Oscillatory Activity, and Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease
  3. Brain, 2026 -- Modulating inhibitory synaptic plasticity to restore basal ganglia dynamics in Parkinson's disease
  4. Frontiers in Neurology, 2026 -- High-dose accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation targeting the primary motor cortex for gait and cognitive functions in cerebral small vessel disease: a randomized controlled trial
  5. NICE, 2024 -- Overview | Parkinson’s disease in adults | Guidance
  6. BMJ Medicine, 2026 -- Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease: systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
  7. Overview | Parkinson’s disease in adults | Guidance | NICE
  8. Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease: systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis | BMJ Medicine

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