Cerebellar DBS for Movement Disorders in Children and Young Adults with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of acquired dystonia in children, yet current treatments often provide only limited benefit. This project investigates the cerebellum as a novel target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in dystonic cerebral palsy, leveraging next-generation sensing stimulators that can record brain activity while delivering therapy. By combining intracranial recordings, advanced imaging, and wearable sensors, we aim to define cerebellar biomarkers of abnormal movement and evaluate the potential of cerebellar DBS to improve motor symptoms and quality of life in this underserved population. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06122675

1. San Luciano M, Oehrn CR, Wang SS, Tolmie JS, Wiltshire A, Graff RE, Zhu J, Starr PA. Protocol for combined N-of-1 trials to assess cerebellar neurostimulation for movement disorders in children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. BMC Neurol. 2024 Apr 29;24(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12883-024-03633-z. PMID: 38684956; PMCID: PMC11057158.
2. Cajigas I, Morrison MA, Luciano MS, Starr PA. Cerebellar deep brain stimulation for the treatment of movement disorders in cerebral palsy. J Neurosurg. 2023 Feb 10;139(3):605-614. doi: 10.3171/2023.1.JNS222289. PMID: 36789999; PMCID: PMC10726727.
3. Cajigas I, Morrison MA, San Luciano M, Starr P. Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation in Cerebral Palsy: Promising Early Results and a Look Forward to a Larger Clinical Trial. World Neurosurg. 2023 Jun;174:223-224. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.03.069. Epub 2023 Mar 20. PMID: 36940804; PMCID: PMC10691838.