Brain stimulation treatments for freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease

This trial is testing whether brain stimulation treatments can help reduce freezing of gait, a symptom where people with Parkinson's disease suddenly cannot move their feet while walking, even though they want to. Researchers will use three different approaches: transcranial direct current stimulation (a non-invasive method that uses electrical current on the scalp), magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (another non-invasive method using sound waves), and deep brain stimulation (a surgical implant). The study combines brain imaging, electrical recordings, and artificial intelligence to understand exactly what happens in the brain during freezing episodes and how these treatments might help.

Freezing of gait is one of the most disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease, often causing dangerous falls and loss of independence. Current medications don't always help with this symptom, so researchers are exploring whether brain stimulation techniques might offer a new option for people who don't respond well to standard treatments.