Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Neuroscience

Supervisor

Dr. Mandar Jog

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that encompasses both motor and non-motor symptoms. These symptoms and their severity are typically assessed by scale based measures in a clinical setting. Scale- based assessments of PD patients undergoing bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery (STN-DBS) such as the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) are commonly used in a clinical setting to assess symptom severity and progression. However, the subjective nature of these and other clinical scales call into question both the sensitivity and accuracy of patient assessment over time. An objective quantification of rest and postural tremor of PD patients who have undergone STN-DBS has never been conducted. Furthermore, objective technologies that quantitatively assess the effects of STN-DBS programming on full body rest and postural tremor have not yet been fully explored. The study employed the use of a full body kinematic Inertial Motion Unit (IMU) based technology in order to study the short term and long term effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on idiopathic PD patients. Not surprisingly both whole body rest and upper postural tremor reduced by six months following DBS surgery. An average best setting was identified for tremor reduction.

Download

Share

COinS