Researchers in Germany have discovered a promising new approach to improving movement in people with Parkinson’s disease.
The study, published on April 12, 2025, in the journal Scientific Reports, explored how stimulating a lesser-known part of the brain called the inferior colliculus can boost walking ability and potentially improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients.
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, patients often struggle with walking and eventually may lose the ability altogether. While medications can help early on, they often become less effective in advanced stages.
One common alternative is deep brain stimulation (DBS), also known as a brain pacemaker. This treatment involves placing an electrical device in the brain to send controlled pulses to targeted areas, such as the subthalamic nucleus, to improve movement.
In this new study, researchers from Ruhr University Bochum and Philipps-Universität Marburg tested whether stimulating the inferior colliculus could activate another important movement center, the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR).
Previous work by Dr. Liana Melo-Thomas and her team showed that this brain area, which usually processes sound, can also influence movement and is not damaged by Parkinson’s.
To explore this further, the research team used a precise technique called optogenetics. This method uses light to turn nerve cells on or off by making them sensitive to light through genetic modification.
Researchers then shine light through tiny optical fibers implanted in the brain. This gives much more control than traditional electrical stimulation, which can affect nearby tissues unintentionally.
For the first time, researchers measured the brain’s electrical activity directly while stimulating the inferior colliculus. They used a special multi-electrode system developed at Philipps-Universität Marburg to record brain signals in real time. This allowed them to track how brain cells responded to stimulation while the animals were awake and moving.
The results showed that stimulating the inferior colliculus increased activity in both that region and the MLR. Some brain cells in the MLR were even activated within 4.7 milliseconds, suggesting a direct connection between the two areas. This confirmed that stimulating the inferior colliculus can trigger activity in movement-related brain circuits.
The study offers hope that future therapies might target brain pathways outside the basal ganglia, which are typically affected by Parkinson’s. Exploring these alternative routes may help researchers develop more effective treatments to manage motor symptoms.
Dr. Wolfgang Kruse, who helped lead the study, said this foundational research is critical, even though new therapies may still take time to reach patients. Understanding how brain circuits control movement and respond to stimulation could eventually improve and personalize treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
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