Alpha and high beta subthalamic intermittent activity correlates with freezing of gait severity in Parkinson's disease

Author(s)

Neto, Arnaldo Fim ; Godinho, Fabio ; da Silva, Luiz Ricardo Trajano ; de Luccas, Julia Baldi ; Takahata, Andre Kazuo ; Figueiredo, Eberval Gadelha ; Carlotti Junior, Carlos Gilberto ; Rocha, Maria Sheila Guimaraes ; Soriano, Diogo Coutinho

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY; v. 171, p. 10-pg., 2025-01-29.

Abstract

Introduction: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling symptom that affects over half of Parkinson's disease patients (PD) and hinders the ability to walk. Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) effectiveness in ameliorating the FOG remains controversial, lacking a reliable electrophysiological biomarker from local field potentials (LFP). Methods: The LFP-STN rhythms bandpower and dynamics were characterized at rest across groups in a cohort of 23 patients (14 with FOG, and 9 without, n-FOG). Results: FOG patients presented enhanced alpha bandpower (FOG vs. n-FOG: 0.331 f 0.087 vs. 0.248 f 0.089; p = 0.011) and intermittent (burst) alpha amplitude (FOG vs. n-FOG: 0.610 f 0.068 vs. 0.524 f 0.086; p = 0.005). Both intermittent alpha (r = 0.330, p = 0.046) and intermittent high beta amplitude (r = 0.415, p = 0.011) correlated with the FOG score. Alpha burst amplitude correlated with FOG severity (r = 0.479, p = 0.003), and high beta burst amplitude inversely correlated (r = -0.411, p = 0.014) with the performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) index. Conclusion: These results suggest that alpha and high beta subthalamic oscillations impact FOG symptoms. Significance: The investigation suggests potentially newer co-biomarkers of FOG to guide multi-rhythm paradigms in DBS treatment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/14285-0 - Spectral differences of local field potentials recorded in bilateral subthalamic nuclei of patients with Parkinson's Disease
• Grantee: Julia Baldi de Luccas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 13/07559-3 - BRAINN - The Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
• Grantee: Fernando Cendes
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 22/03243-0 - Interdisciplinary research of machine learning and artificial techniques for development of signal, image and natural language processing technologies
• Grantee: André Kazuo Takahata
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project