Neurophysiology of Locomotor Adaptation and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Neurophysiology of Locomotor Adaptation and Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Locomotor adaptation will be studied using an established split-belt treadmill paradigm, consisting of baseline (1:1 speed ratio), split-belt adaptation (2:1) and post-adaptation (1:1) walking. Split-belt walking will be performed under DBS ON and DBS OFF conditions, while off-medication.

We will test the hypotheses that DBS can facilitate split-belt walking adaptation with DBS ON compared with DBS OFF.

Inclusion Criteria:

• consensus diagnosis of idiopathic PD by fellowship trained movement disorders neurologists at the Normal Fixel Institute of Neurological Diseases;
• chronically stable DBS, defined as having had DBS for at least 6 months in duration with optimized DBS settings;
• Age between 18 - 80 years old per the FDA data sheet for PD DBS;
• no dementia according to the clinical diagnostic criteria for PD dementia;
• ambulatory without the use of walking aids, or another person's assistance.

Exclusion Criteria:

• other previous neurological surgery;
• suspicion of other neurologic diagnoses such as atypical parkinsonism, or Alzheimer's disease.