# Deep brain stimulation for visuomotor function in Parkinson's disease

> **NIH VA I21** · LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · —

## Abstract

The sufferers of a prevalent condition called Parkinson's disease have tremors, rigidity, and slow
movements. In addition to its effects on body movements, Parkinson's disease affects many other brain
functions. Visual impairments are common in Parkinson's patients who have difficulties holding their eyes steady
at a given location, seamlessly look around and read, and refocus their eyes from one image to the other placed
at different depths. About two thirds of Parkinson's disease patients have problems coordinating two eyes'
movements necessary to refocusing at different depths, i.e., abnormal vergence causing disabling double vision
and abnormal depth perception. Most treatment options available to Parkinson's disease patients are limited to
their effects on tremor, rigidity, and slowness – their impact on visual function is poorly understood. Orbital
muscle surgeries are not ideal treatments given the brain's continually changing state due to the disease's
degenerative nature. Presently available strategies of deep brain stimulation have variable effects on eye
movements and vergence function. Our research program aims to identify the best possible therapeutic
approach using deep brain stimulation to improve vergence eye movements in Parkinson's disease while
continuing to offer its other benefits. Our multidisciplinary program has two aspects. One part of the study will
examine the effects of deep brain stimulation on vergence abnormalities affecting their ability to focus at various
depths. Using state-of-the-art, high-resolution, research-grade ophthalmic equipment, we will examine how deep
brain stimulation can improve the patients' ability to refocus and treat vergence abnormalities affecting depth
perception. Once we identify these favorable changes, we will correlate them with the stimulated anatomical
location within the same patient's brain. To do so, we will combine novel computer simulations of deep brain
stimulation-induced electrical field overlaid upon the patient's magnetic resonance images. The knowledge
gained will allow us to find the most beneficial stimulation locations to improve vision while offering improvement
in tremors, rigidity, and slow movements.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10484282
- **Project number:** 1I21RX003878-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Aasef G Shaikh
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10484282

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10484282, Deep brain stimulation for visuomotor function in Parkinson's disease (1I21RX003878-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10484282. Licensed CC0.

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