Treffer: Parkinson's disease participant-led research: Towards neuroimaging-assisted deep brain stimulation programming.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve Parkinson's disease symptoms; however, its effectiveness depends on selecting optimal settings. DBS parameter selection can be challenging, as objective metrics to guide the process are lacking. This n-of-1 study explored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to guide DBS programming. Led by the participant, the study embedded a patient perspective at the center of the project. Multiple DBS settings were tested, and their effects on gait and cortical functional connectivity were measured. The DBS program that best supported gait had the lowest functional connectivity with the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as seed. This suggests fNIRS may be used to guide individual optimization of DBS treatment. Plain language summary: This study involved one person with Parkinson's who led the research to explore how brain imaging might help neurologists to choose deep brain stimulation (DBS) settings. People with Parkinson's often need to think actively to move. This thinking for movement can be seen in surface brain activity. Our study found that the DBS program that best supported walking showed the least functional connectivity between brain areas involved in thinking about movement. This is important, because there are currently no clinical tools to adequately guide DBS programming for gait, and such imaging could help neurologists select more effective DBS settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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