New directional brain stimulation aims to stop Parkinson's freezing
NCT ID NCT04223427
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve walking and balance problems in people with Parkinson's disease. Nineteen patients who already had DBS electrodes implanted took part. Researchers compared different stimulation settings to see which helped reduce freezing of gait.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could help doctors fine-tune DBS to reduce freezing of gait and falls in Parkinson's patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 19 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The effect on gait varies from person to person.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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19 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2020
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 18 and 70 years 2. Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease; as defined by the United Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank (UKPDSBB) criteria 3. Patients eligible for subthalamic bilateral deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) according to local inclusion criteria; 4. Freezing of gait in the OFF-dopa condition with item 2.13 of the MDS-UPDRS \> 0 in usual life; 5. Patient having read and understood the information letter and signed the Informed Consent Form 6. Patient affiliated with, or beneficiary of a social security category 7. Stability of others medical disorders or that do not interfere with the research protocol. 8. Woman of childbearing potential with effective contraception according to WHO definition (estrogen-progestin or intra-uterine device or tubal ligation) since at least 3 months (negative urinary pregnancy test at inclusion) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Actual and severe psychiatric pathology or other neurological disorder 2. Dementia (MMS \<24/30) 3. Contraindication to research MRI (without contrast product) such as claustrophobia, metallic splinters in the eyes, ferromagnetic foreign bodies close to nerve structures, cardiac, ORL and neurological devices not MRI compatible, wearing of osteosynthseis equipment prior to 1980, metal prostheses, bypass valves ventriculoperitoneal neurosurgery, tattoos containing iron particles… 4. Contraindication to surgery: hemostasis trouble, anticoagulants or antiagregants treatment, ongoing infection 5. Hypersensitivity to contrasts agents 6. Persons under guardianship, tutorship or any other administrative or judicial measure of deprivation of rights and liberty 7. Subject at the time of exclusion from other biomedical research or participating in any other biomedical research or therapeutic trial 8. Pregnant or parturient or lactating woman or lack of proven and effective contraception according to WHO definition (estrogen-progestin or intra-uterine device or tubal ligation) (for women of childbearing age)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU de ROUEN
Rouen, France, 76000, France
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