Subthalamic nucleus input-output dynamics are correlated with Parkinson's burden and treatment efficacy.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is pivotal in basal ganglia function in health and disease. Micro-electrode recordings of >25,000 recording sites from 146 Parkinson's patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) allowed differentiation between subthalamic input, represented by local field potential (LFP), and output, reflected in spike discharge rate (SPK). As with many natural systems, STN neuronal activity exhibits power-law dynamics characterized by the exponent α.

Perception of emotionally incongruent cues: evidence for overreliance on body vs. face expressions in Parkinson's disease.

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may exhibit impaired emotion perception. However, research demonstrating this decline has been based almost entirely on the recognition of isolated emotional cues. In real life, emotional cues such as expressive faces are typically encountered alongside expressive bodies.

The Genetic Etiology of Parkinson's Disease Does Not Robustly Affect Subthalamic Physiology.

Background: It is unknown whether Parkinson's disease (PD) genetic heterogeneity, leading to phenotypic and pathological variability, is also associated with variability in the unique PD electrophysiological signature. Such variability might have practical implications for adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Objective: The aim of our work was to study the electrophysiological activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients with PD with pathogenic variants in different disease-causing genes.

Multicenter Validation of Individual Preoperative Motor Outcome Prediction for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) is an established therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffering from motor response fluctuations despite optimal medical treatment, or severe dopaminergic side effects. Despite careful clinical selection and surgical procedures, some patients do not benefit from STN DBS. Preoperative prediction models are suggested to better predict individual motor response after STN DBS.

Deep Brain Stimulation Can Differentiate Subregions of the Human Subthalamic Nucleus Area by EEG Biomarkers.

Precise lead localization is crucial for an optimal clinical outcome of subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Currently, anatomical measures, as well as invasive intraoperative electrophysiological recordings, are used to locate DBS electrodes. The objective of this study was to find an alternative electrophysiology tool for STN DBS lead localization.

Independently together: subthalamic theta and beta opposite roles in predicting Parkinson's tremor.

Tremor is a core feature of Parkinson's disease and the most easily recognized Parkinsonian sign. Nonetheless, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Here, we show that multispectral spiking activity in the posterior-dorso-lateral oscillatory (motor) region of the subthalamic nucleus distinguishes resting tremor from the other Parkinsonian motor signs and strongly correlates with its severity.

Parkinson's Disease in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia: Consensus from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force for the Middle East.

Background: Understanding the regional needs and available healthcare resources to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) is essential to plan appropriate future priorities. The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Task Force for the Middle East was established to raise awareness and promote education across the region on PD and other movement disorders. Broadly, the task force encompasses the countries of the Middle East but has included North Africa and South Asia as well (MENASA).

A Real-Life Search for the Optimal Set of Conversion Factors to Levodopa-Equivalent-Dose in Parkinson's Disease Patients on Polytherapy.

Background: A wide variety of conversion factors for a levodopa-equivalent-dose (LED) have been proposed for each Parkinson's disease (PD) medication. The currently-used set of conversion factors is based on studies that relied on subjective experience or theoretical assumptions. This set was never validated in patients receiving polytherapy.

Repeated Intravenous Amantadine Infusions in Advanced Parkinsonism: Experience of a Large Movement Disorder Center.

Background: The effect of repeated intravenous amantadine (IVAM) in advanced Parkinsonism has not been studied in depth.

Objectives: To report the experience of our medical center with repeated IVAM infusions in patients with advanced Parkinsonism.

Methods: Thirty patients with advanced Parkinsonism of various etiologies were enrolled in an open-label retrospective study.

Theta-alpha oscillations characterize emotional subregion in the human ventral subthalamic nucleus.

Background: Therapeutic outcomes of STN-DBS for movement and psychiatric disorders depend on electrode location within the STN. Electrophysiological and functional mapping of the STN has progressed considerably in the past years, identifying beta-band oscillatory activity in the dorsal STN as a motor biomarker. It also has been suggested that STN theta-alpha oscillations, involved in impulse control and action inhibition, have a ventral source.

is associated with recessive primary familial brain calcification.

Objective: To investigate the genetic basis of the recessive form of primary familial brain calcification and study pathways linking a novel gene with known dominant genes that cause the disease.

Methods: Whole exome sequencing and Sanger-based segregation analysis were used to identify possible disease causing mutations. Mutation pathogenicity was validated by structural protein modeling.

Decisional capacity for advanced care directives in Parkinson's disease with cognitive concerns.

Introduction: Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Therapies (POLST) or Goals of Care (GOC) are legal documents to guide intensity of interventions (ICU, resuscitation, hospitalization or comfort care) completed by healthcare professionals following counseling of patients or their designated medical decision makers. Capacity (understanding, appreciation, reasoning and expressing a choice) to consent to POLST or GOC has not been determined among Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. We sought to assess GOC PD decisional capacity for those with cognitive complaints but not dementia.