Publications by authors named "M-L Welter"

Objective: To investigate the effects of directional subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-dDBS) on gait and balance disorders, including freezing of gait (FOG), in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: We included 10 participants who underwent STN-DBS and presented severe preoperative FOG, in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. We used segmented DBS electrodes to investigate whether directing the predicted volume of tissue activated (VTA) to overlap the central STN preferentially improved gait and balance disorders compared to directional DBS applied in the more posterior STN (sensorimotor).

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated changes in biological, clinical, and imaging markers in carriers of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 2 and 7 over one year, focusing on MRI and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels.
  • - It included assessments of neurological function, quality of life, and brain imaging among 15 SCA2 carriers, 15 SCA7 carriers, and 10 control subjects, while noting differences in SARA scores and brain volume from baseline measurements.
  • - Results indicated significant brain volume loss and worsening motor function in SCA2 carriers, an increase in SARA scores and thinning of retinal layers in SCA7, highlighting the progressive nature of these at
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Background: Exergaming has been proposed to improve gait and balance disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a home-based, tailored, exergaming training system designed for PD patients with dopa-resistant gait and/or balance disorders in a controlled randomized trial.

Methods: We recruited PD patients with dopa-resistant gait and/or balance disorders.

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Objectives: Nucleus basalis of Meynert deep brain stimulation (NBM-DBS) has been proposed for patients with dementia. Here, we aim to assess the safety and effects of NBM-DBS in patients with Lewy body dementia (LBD), in a randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial.

Methods: Six patients with mild to moderate LBD (mean [SD] age, 62.

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Objective: To characterize how disease progression is associated with mortality in a large cohort of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) with long-term follow-up after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS).

Methods: Motor and cognitive disabilities were assessed before and 1, 2, 5, and 10 years after STN-DBS in 143 consecutive patients with PD. We measured motor symptoms "off" and "on" levodopa and STN-DBS and recorded causes of death.

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Objective: To describe the relation between gaze and posture/gait control in Parkinson disease (PD) and to determine the role of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) and cortex-MLR connection in saccadic behavior because this structure is a major area involved in both gait/postural control and gaze control networks.

Methods: We recruited 30 patients with PD with or without altered postural control and 25 age-matched healthy controls (HCs). We assessed gait, balance, and neuropsychological status and separately recorded gait initiation and eye movements (visually guided saccades and volitional antisaccades).

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Objective: To further determine the causes of variable outcome from deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-STN) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Data were obtained from our cohort of 309 patients with PD who underwent DBS-STN between 1996 and 2009. We examined the relationship between the 1-year motor, cognitive, and psychiatric outcomes and (1) preoperative PD clinical features, (2) MRI measures, (3) surgical procedure, and (4) locations of therapeutic contacts.

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