Deep Brain Stimulation for Visuomotor Function in Parkinson's Disease

The victims of very common condition Parkinson's disease (PD) are known to have tremor, rigidity, and slow movements. PD, in addition to its effects on human movements, also affects many other aspect of the brain's function. Impairment of vision is frequently seen in PD. These patients have difficulties with holding their eyes steady at a given point, seamlessly look around and read, and refocus their eyes from one image to the other while looking at objects that are at different depths. About third of the PD patients have problems coordinating the movement of two eyes together, i.e., abnormal vergence. Latter results in disabling double vision and abnormal depth perception. Most treatment options available to PD patients are limited to their effects on tremor, stiffness, and slowness - their effects on visual function is very limited. Eye surgeries are not ideal treatment strategies for these conditions given constantly changing state of the PD brain due to its degenerative nature. Cutting edge deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery has variable effects on the eye movements and vergence function in PD. The goal of our research program is to identify the best possible therapeutic strategy using DBS to improve vergence eye movements in PD while continuing to offer its other benefits. Our multidisciplinary program has two aspects. One part of the study will examine the effects of DBS on vergence abnormalities affecting their ability to focus at various depths. Using state of art, high-resolution, research grade ophthalmic equipment the investigators will examine fine details of how DBS alters the patients' ability to refocus and how it changes the alignment between the two eyes that can cause double vision and abnormal depth perception. Once the investigators identify these characteristic changes, the investigators will correlate them with the stimulated anatomical location within the same patient's brain determined using combination of novel computer simulations of DBS and the patient's own MRI. The knowledge gained will allow us to find the ideal stimulation locations that is most beneficial to the patient for improvement in vision while continuing to offer benefits for tremor, rigidity, and slow movements.

Inclusion criteria

• Parkinson's disease with bilateral STN DBS
• Availability of pre-operative MR images (with a T1-weighted, gradient-echo sequence) and ability to get post-operative MRI or CT scans
• Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-4 when off medication, and a stable antiparkinsonian medication regimen and DBS parameter settings

Exclusion criteria

• Previous surgical therapy for Parkinson's disease (other than DBS)
• Dementia
• Clinically significant untreated depression or anxiety
• Clinical features suggestive of atypical parkinsonism