Reversing cognitive-motor impairments in patients having a neuro-degenerative disease using a computational modeling approach to deep brain stimulation programming

Abstract

A system and method may provide for conducting a stimulation of anatomic regions to treat a neuromotor, neurocognitive or neuromotor and neurocognitive disorder, according to which stimulation, motor regions are stimulated, while creep of current to non-motor regions is minimized. Stimulation parameters may be selected based on tests of motor function, tests of cognitive function, and tests of a combination of motor and cognitive functions.

1 . A method, comprising:
 using deep brain stimulation, stimulating at least one of the zona incerta, lenticular fasciculus, and motor region of the globus pallidus, wherein less than 10% of non-motor regions of the brain is stimulated as a result of the stimulation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein less than 10% of the non-motor regions of the globus pallidus is stimulated as a result of the stimulation. 
     
     
         3 . A method, comprising:
 stimulating an anatomical region in a stimulation procedure in which at least one of the zona incerta, lenticular fasciculus, and motor region of the globus pallidus are stimulated, while current is not spread to, and therefore there is no stimulation of, any of the corticospinal tract (CS), corticobulbar tract (CB), and the non-motor regions of the globus pallidus (GP).   
     
     
         4 . A method, comprising:
 selecting stimulation parameters for treatment of a neuro-degenerative disorder based on results of tests of cognitive function, tests of motor function, and a combination of such tests, the tests being conducted on by the patient to which stimulation is to be performed using the selected stimulation parameters.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the stimulation is performed using implanted electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the test results are used for selection of stimulation parameters that minimize creep of current to non-motor anatomic regions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein an n-Back test is used as the test for testing cognitive function, a force-maintenance task is used as the test for testing motor function, and a test where the patient is subjected to both the n-Back test and the force-maintenance task simultaneously is used as the combination.