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Evaluation of individual tractography for tremor control using image-guided deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease (imagTremorDBS)

Description

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for drug-resistant tremor in Parkinson's disease. However, its clinical success largely depends on the precise selection of active stimulation electrodes. Unlike other cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease, tremor is understood to result from a pathological interaction between the basal ganglia and cerebellothalamocortical networks. While clinical programming has traditionally focused on the dorsolateral motor subregion of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), there is growing evidence that DBS effects are not mediated exclusively by local stimulation of the basal ganglia. Instead, these effects appear to be largely based on the modulation of functionally connected motor networks. A potentially relevant network target is the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRTT), a central component of the cerebellothalamocortical loops.

Building on the results of a previous study by our research group, this project aims to investigate whether network stimulation can contribute to tremor control, thereby improving DBS efficacy and minimizing stimulation-associated side effects.

Contact

Dr. med. Alexander Calvano
Telefone: 06421/58 - 65299
Telefax: 06421/58 - 67055
alexander.calvano@staff.*

* please add "uni-marburg.de" for a full email-address.