---
title: Predict benefit from brain stimulation
nct_id: NCT07376278
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
study_type: OBSERVATIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07376278"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07376278"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:06:10.116Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Predict benefit from brain stimulation

**Goal (in five words):** Predict benefit from brain stimulation

**Official Title:** A Prospective Observational Study for the Predictors of Clinical Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT07376278](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07376278)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** OBSERVATIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- **Target Enrollment:** 30 participants
- **Start Date:** 2026-02-05
- **Completion Date:** 2036-02-01
- **Conditions:** Deep Brain Stimulation, PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)
- **Interventions:** DBS
- **Intervention Types:** PROCEDURE

## Summary For Families

The study aims to find clinical, imaging, or blood markers that predict who will get the best motor and overall benefits from deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's. Participants are people already referred for standard DBS surgery, which uses implanted electrodes to send continuous electrical stimulation to brain targets such as the subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus interna, calming abnormal movement circuits, improving tremor and slowness, and often allowing lower levodopa doses while treating dopamine-responsive symptoms. They are looking for adults 18 to 75 with clinically established, dopamine-responsive PD who have significant motor complications despite optimized meds, typically an off-med UPDRS motor score above 30, Hoehn and Yahr stage over 2.5 off meds, no major cognitive or psychiatric problems, and willingness to undergo DBS and blood sampling. The study is observational and plans to follow about 30 people to learn who benefits most rather than testing a new device.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 75 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of "Clinically Established PD" as defined by the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's disease (MDS-PD criteria)
2. Referred for DBS according to standard local clinical guidelines 2a. Significant motor complications despite optimized pharmacological treatment 2ai. UPDRS motor score \>30/108 in the off-medication state 2aii. Hoehn and Yahr staging \>2.5/5 in the off-medication state 2b. Dopamine responsive 2bi. \>33% improvement in UPDRS motor score after levodopa administration 2c. Age ≤75 years 2d. No contraindication to surgery or other significant comorbidity with limited life expectancy 2e. No significant psychiatric problems or cognitive impairment 2f. No structural lesions or features suggestive of atypical parkinsonism or other mimickers of idiopathic PD on neuroimaging

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unwilling to undergo blood sampling for study purposes
2. Evidence of Parkinsonism due to heavy metal exposure
3. History of neurodevelopmental disorder, neurodegenerative disease other than PD, CNS infection, neuroinflammatory disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis, CNS lupus), malignancy within the last 10 years, cerebrovascular accident, HIV infection, systemic autoimmune disease, alcohol dependence or other substance use
4. Unable to pass DBS pre-operative assessment or unwilling to undergo DBS
```

## Locations (1)

- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, Hong Kong _(22.2783, 114.1747)_
  - Nancy Ip — (CONTACT) — 852-23587304 — boip@ust.hk
  - Danise Au — (CONTACT) — 852-23588973 — daniseau@ust.hk

## Central Contacts

- Nancy Ip — (CONTACT) — 852-23587304 — boip@ust.hk
- Danise Au — (CONTACT) — 852-23588973 — daniseau@ust.hk

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07376278*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07376278*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07376278*