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Cognitive Decline Following Deep Brain Stimulation: A DBS-fMRI Study

Medical University of South Carolina · with National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · NCT06960096

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
55
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
August 21, 2025
Record last updated
October 8, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The objective of this research study is to understand how Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) targeting the subthalamic nucleus (STN) affects cognitive networks in the brain, potentially leading to cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). A total of 55 participants with PD who have undergone DBS surgery will be recruited from MUSC's Clinical DBS Program. Participants will attend two post-DBS visits: a 3-hour visit for consent, demographic, and cognitive assessments, and a 3-hour DBS-MRI visit to evaluate brain network connectivity with stimulation ON and OFF. These findings will help improve patient selection for surgery and optimize the selection of stimulation targets that minimize undesirable cognitive side effects.

Being studied: DBS combined with fMRI

Conditions: Deep Brain Stimulation; Parkinson Disease

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Subjects above 18 years of age
  • Individuals with a PD diagnosis as defined by the UK Brain Bank diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease (58) which have undergone a neurological and neuropsychological evaluation at MUSCs movement disorder center, and were selected to undergo 3T compatible unilateral or bilateral STN- DBS implants

Exclusion Criteria

  • Uncorrected visual or hearing impairments, as indicated by self-report
  • Individuals who are pregnant or expect to become pregnant during the course of the study
  • Individuals that have a history of neurological disease (other than PD) including previous stroke, major head trauma, and epilepsy or seizures.
  • Individuals with claustrophobia, or the inability to lie supine position in the MRI scanner
  • COPD with oxygen dependence
  • Non-MRI compatible metal implants (surgical clips or staples, cardiac pacemakers etc.)

Recruiting US locations

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    Charleston, SC 29425

    Site contact: Daniel H. Lench, Phd · 843-792-9115 · lenchd@musc.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Recruitment Coordinator · 843-792-0235 · malakout@musc.edu
All neurology studies in South Carolina →
Cognitive Decline Following Deep Brain Stimulation: A DBS-fMRI Study (NCT06960096) | Bored Studies