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Optimizing Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Gait Issues

This study is looking at how different settings for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can help with walking problems (postural instability gait disorder) in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers will use special computer models, based on your past MRI and CT scans, to find the best DBS settings for you. These settings will either target the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus (GP) in your brain, within FDA-approved limits. The goal is to see if these optimized settings can improve your gait, which will be measured during a gait test. This study plans to include 60 participants who are between 18 and 89 years old and have already received bilateral DBS for PD.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 60 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
You would undergo testing with different Deep Brain Stimulation settings, which will take about 5-6 hours. This includes both test stimulation and off-stimulation time.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your gait will be measured at 1 minute during the testing period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05893186

Multiple Objective Particle Swarm Optimization Postural Instability Gait Disorder

Recruiting
EARLY_PHASE1Ages 18–89InterventionalBasic science
University of Minnesota
~60 participants
Updated 2026-05-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Deep Brain Stimulation, STNGP Deep Brain Stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Gait test
Measured over 1 minute

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

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NCT05893186

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesotastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Scott Cooper, MD, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Minnesota

Who to contact

Johanna Caskey, BA
[email protected]
763-353-9470
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

Neurological or musculoskeletal disorder that significantly affects gait, balance, or limb movements
Dementia
Prior stereotactic neurosurgery other than DBS for movement disorder
Pregnancy

What this trial measures

  • Gait test1 minute

    Subjects walk for one minute each on a treadmill set to match their individual overground walking speed. A forceplate measures the center of pressure trajectory from which integral software detects time and location of heel-strike and toe off events, and from these, plus the treadmill speed, we compute step lengths.