# Effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on laryngeal function and associated behaviors in Parkinson Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2024 · $482,209

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Nearly one-million people in North America are now living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and that number is
projected to rise to nearly 1.2 million by 2030. With advancements in neuromodulatory technologies, increasingly
more of these individuals elect to undergo deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in order to control symptoms of
the disease, including refractory tremor, medication-induced dyskinesias, and PD-associated dystonia. The two
most common DBS neural targets for controlling these symptoms are the globus pallidus internal segment (GPi)
and the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Recent meta-analyses have shown relative equivalence between these two
sites at controlling core PD symptoms. To date, there is not conclusive evidence regarding the potential impact
of DBS to GPi or STN on laryngeal-mediated functions of voice, swallowing, and cough, and consequently no
guidance on whether these outcomes should be considered when selecting DBS target. Therefore, the goal of
this application is to determine the impact of DBS neural target (STN versus GPi), lead location within the target,
laterality, and stimulation settings on voice, swallow and cough function in people with PD. The larynx is an
important player in each of these functions, and our central hypothesis is that spread of stimulation to
corticobulbar fibers in the genu of the internal capsule have deleterious effects on laryngeal motor
control, resulting in voice, swallow, and cough dysfunction. We have identified three specific aims for this
application: 1.) To compare laryngeal function during volitional voice tasks pre-post DBS, and when DBS
placement is bilateral versus unilateral for STN and GPi targets. 2.) To compare laryngeal function during
volitional and induced cough tasks pre-post DBS, and when DBS placement is bilateral versus unilateral for STN
and GPi targets. 3.) To compare airway safety associated with laryngeal onset, degree, and duration of maximum
closure during swallowing, pre-post DBS, and when DBS placement is bilateral versus unilateral for STN and
GPi targets. These hypotheses were developed based on compelling published and unpublished preliminary
data. We will accomplish these aims by enrolling people with PD who are being considered for DBS surgery,
and a control cohort with similar age, disease duration and severity, who are not currently being considered for
DBS surgery. We will measure physiologic, functional, and quality of life parameters of voice, swallow and cough
pre- and post-surgically (and at equivalently spaced time-points for the control group.) The realization of the
proposed aims is significant because it will address a substantial gap in our understanding of DBS outcomes
related to communication and airway protection, which are important in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality
of life for patients with PD. The translational potential to provide additional guidance to DBS surgical teams
regarding whether voice, swallow...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904836
- **Project number:** 5R01DC020450-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen W Hegland
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $482,209
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-10 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904836, Effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on laryngeal function and associated behaviors in Parkinson Disease (5R01DC020450-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904836. Licensed CC0.

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