Deep Brain Stimulation at Variable Frequency to Improve Motor Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT: Introduction:Deep brain stimulation (DBS) with high frequency (HFS) is a well-established therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD); however, low frequency DBS (LFS) may control axial symptoms including freezing of gait (FOG). We conducted a pilot safety and feasibility study to examine if a novel DBS paradigm of variable frequency stimulation (VFS) that combined HFS and LFS would capture a broader set of motor symptoms. Methods:Four PD patients with bilateral STN DBS and FOG were enrolled. A UPDRS III and 10?m timed up and go (TUG) task were performed off medications-off DBS and then one hour after HFS and one hour after VFS programming. Results:The UPDRS III motor score improved by additional 14% during VFS setting when compared to HFS. VFS also increased gait speed (mean change 45%) and reduced the number of freezing episodes (mean change 58%). Conclusions:VFS improves UPDRS and FOG in PD when compared to HFS.Copyright © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

SUBMITTER: Jia F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6207106 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep-Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature