Variable Frequency Stimulation of Subthalamic Nucleus for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Overview

This is the first study on the effect of the variable frequency stimulation (VFS) on Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with STN DBS. FOG has responded poorly to High frequency stimulation (HFS) but can be alleviated by relatively VFS. This study would have significant clinical implications in the management of Freezing of gait (FOG) in these PD patients with subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS. The investigators hypothesize that VFS could have better effect on FOG than HFS and low frequency stimulation (LFS).

HFS of STN provides consistent, long-term improvement of the cardinal motor signs of PD, such as bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity. FOG has responded poorly to HFS and tends to continue to deteriorate over time, but this can be alleviated by relatively LFS. Evidence has indicated that LFS-STN can improve axial signs in some but not all PD patients, but most of them experienced loss of efficacy in the short term. Then comes to the little improvement or even worse of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia, which consists of the three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Thus even if axial problems could be solved by LFS in a long way, it could also be hard to tolerate by those patients. The effect of VFS on FOG will be studied. The investigators hypothesize that VFS could have better effect on Freezing of gait than HFS and LFS.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (2)

Outcomes