A spinal cord neuroprosthesis for locomotor deficits due to Parkinson's disease
People with late-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) often suffer from debilitating locomotor deficits that are resistant to currently available therapies. To alleviate these deficits, we developed a neuroprosthesis operating in closed loop that targets the dorsal root entry zones innervating lumbosacral segments to reproduce the natural spatiotemporal activation of the lumbosacral spinal cord during walking. We first developed this neuroprosthesis in a non-human primate model that replicates locomotor deficits due to PD. This neuroprosthesis not only alleviated locomotor deficits but also restored skilled walking in this model. We then implanted the neuroprosthesis in a 62-year-old male with a 30-year history of PD who presented with severe gait impairments and frequent falls that were medically refractory to currently available therapies. We found that the neuroprosthesis interacted synergistically with deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus and dopaminergic replacement therapies to alleviate asymmetry and promote longer steps, improve balance and reduce freezing of gait. This neuroprosthesis opens new perspectives to reduce the severity of locomotor deficits in people with PD.
WOS:001096987200003
2023-11-06
29
11
2854
REVIEWED
Funder | Grant Number |
Funding was obtained from the Defitech Foundation, the Roger de Spoelberch Prize, ONWARD Medical, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences grant 2021-1-I2M-034, National Natural Science Foundation of China grants 81941012 and 82161138027, PDWALK ERANET JP | |
Defitech Foundation | 2021-1-I2M-034 |
CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences | 81941012 |
National Natural Science Foundation of China | |
(ZonMw) | |
Parkinson Schweiz Foundation | |
European Community | |
European Research Council | |
Wyss Center for Bio- and Neuroengineering | |
Bertarelli Foundation | |
Marie Curie fellowship | |
Marie Curie COFUND EPFL | |
G.S., a Morton Cure Paralysis Fund fellowship | |
Whitaker Foundation | |
Swiss National Science Foundation | IZLCZ3_156331 |
Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation | |
NanoTera.ch program (SpineRepair) | CRSII3_160696 |
Sinergia program | |