The Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab at Stanford University is seeking participants for the SPRING (Stanford Parkinson’s Research In Neuromodulation for Gait) Study. The SPRING Study aims to investigate the safety and feasibility of adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) for impaired gait and freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study’s goal is to advance the development of patient-specific DBS therapy to improve quality of life for people living with PD.
Current DBS systems use open-loop stimulation, which means that stimulation is on all the time at a constant setting that does not change in response to a patient’s real-time state. This study is investigating the feasibility of a closed-loop system, or one that responds to your Parkinson’s symptoms and movement state in real time. These closed-loop settings will only be investigated while you are in the Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Laboratory and you will return to the open-loop settings programmed by a study doctor after the end of each research day. In order to participate in the study, a study doctor has to determine that you meet our center’s standard criteria for DBS as part of your best medical care.
Participants for the study:
· Are between the ages of 18 and 80 years old.
· Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease that is accompanied by gait impairment and/or freezing of gait.
· Attend 6 research visits, lasting 3 – 4 days each, and occurring every 3 – 4 months.
· Participate in the study spanning approximately 1.5-2 years.
For more information, contact the Lab via email or phone 650-723-6709.
See study flyer: