Paradoxical Modulation of STN β-Band Activity with Medication Compared to Deep Brain Stimulation

Mov Disord. 2024 Jan;39(1):192-197. doi: 10.1002/mds.29634. Epub 2023 Oct 27.

Abstract

Background: Excessive subthalamic nucleus (STN) β-band (13-35 Hz) synchronized oscillations has garnered interest as a biomarker for characterizing disease state and developing adaptive stimulation systems for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: To report on a patient with abnormal treatment-responsive modulation in the β-band.

Methods: We examined STN local field potentials from an externalized deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead while assessing PD motor signs in four conditions (OFF, MEDS, DBS, and MEDS+DBS).

Results: The patient presented here exhibited a paradoxical increase in β power following administration of levodopa and pramipexole (MEDS), but an attenuation in β power during DBS and MEDS+DBS despite clinical improvement of 50% or greater under all three therapeutic conditions.

Conclusions: This case highlights the need for further study on the role of β oscillations in the pathophysiology of PD and the importance of personalized approaches to the development of β or other biomarker-based DBS closed loop algorithms. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; deep brain stimulation; levodopa; local field potentials; β-band activity.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Deep Brain Stimulation*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Parkinson Disease*
  • Subthalamic Nucleus* / physiology

Substances

  • Levodopa
  • Biomarkers