Low beta-band suppression as a tool for DBS contact selection for akinetic-rigid symptoms in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Parkinsonism & related disorders 2023-07, Vol.112, p.105478-105478, Article 105478
• Main Authors: Strelow, Joshua N., Dembek, Till A., Baldermann, Juan C., Andrade, Pablo, Fink, Gereon R., Visser-Vandewalle, Veerle, Barbe, Michael T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DBS programming; Deep brain stimulation (DBS); Local field potential (LFP); Nucleus subthalamicus (STN)
• ISSN: 1353-8020; 1873-5126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105478

Suppression of pathologically altered activity in the beta-band has previously been suggested as a biomarker for feedback-based neurostimulation in subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) for Parkinson's Disease (PD). To assess the utility of beta-band suppression as a tool for contact selection in STN-DBS for PD. A sample of seven PD patients (13 hemispheres) with newly implanted directional DBS leads of the STN were recorded during a standardized monopolar contact review (MPR). Recordings were received from contact pairs adjacent to the stimulation contact. The degree of beta-band suppression for each investigated contact was then correlated to the respective clinical results. Additionally, we have implemented a cumulative ROC analysis, to test the predictive value of beta-band suppression on the clinical efficacy of the respective contacts. Stimulation ramping led to frequency-specific changes in the beta-band, while lower frequencies remained unaffected. Most importantly, our results showed that the degree of low beta-band suppression from baseline activity (stimulation off) served as a predictor for clinical efficacy of the respective stimulation contact. In contrast suppression of high beta-band activity yielded no predictive power. The degree of low beta-band suppression can serve as a time-saving, objective tool for contact selection in STN-DBS. •Stimulation ramping does not affect low frequencies.•Low and high beta-band activity are suppressed with active stimulation.•Only suppression of low beta-band activity serves as a predictor for contact efficacy.