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Effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on gait analysis and muscle synergies of patients affected by advanced Parkinson’s disease

POPS_elettrostimolazione encefalica

Duration: 18/10/2023 - 17/10/2025

Scientific Coordinator: Valentina Agostini

Project Type: Project funded by competitive grant

PoliTO Role: Scientific advisor

Abstract

Deep Brain Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a well-established surgical therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) and motor complications that cannot be adequately managed with medication. 

Instrumented gait analysis already proved succesfull for objectively evaluating alterations of locomotor patterns in a wide variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disease, including PD. 

Only recently, the study of motor modules, through the muscle synergy theory, revealed its potential in clinics for understanding the basic mechanisms through which the Central Nervous System (CNS) coordinate different motor tasks. 

In particular, it is possible to reconstruct the group of muscles that synergistically cooperate and the time-dependent neural commands that drive it. The aims of this project are: 

  1. evaluating the effects of bilateral STN-DBS on the motor control strategies of PD patients during dual-task walking, 
  2. defyning and validating a clinical protocol to quantify the functional changes of PD patients through a complete gait analysis and muscle synergy analysis. 

The assessments will be conducted before STN-DBS surgery, and at 3 months and at 12 months after it, by recording non-invasively the electromyography (EMG) activity of the main muscles involved in gait. New medical knowledge will be acquired for the management of PD patients.

Involved Structure
  • DET, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications

 

Partner
  • Department of Neuroscience, City of Health and Science of Turin (Prof. Michele Lanotte, UNITO)
 
Location
  • PolitoBIOMedLab, Turin Polytechnic University
  • Molinette Hospital, City of Health and Science Turin, University of Turin
 
Team di progetto
  • Valentina Agostini, PA and scientific advisor
  • Marco Ghislieri, RTD-A
  • Fabrizio Sciscenti, PhD 
  • Lorenzo Locoratolo, research fellow
  • Marco Knaflitz, PO and director of PolitoBIOMedLab

 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

3. Good health and well-being

 

Link