Category: Parkinson's Disease: Surgical Therapy
Objective: We report the evaluation of real-world outcomes in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) treated with directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems incorporating Multiple Independent Current Control (MICC) across multiple U.S. centers.
Background: DBS delivers long-term improvement in motor complications in PD, with sustained effects extending up to 10 years. The addition of directional leads and Multiple Independent Current Control (MICC) enhances programming precision and may widen the therapeutic window, supporting improved outcomes with fewer stimulation-related adverse effects. Evaluating real-world experience across diverse centers is essential to understanding the clinical value of these advancements.
Method: This ongoing, prospective, multicenter registry study is designed to enroll up to 1,000 patients with Parkinson’s disease across as many as 50 U.S. sites implanted with DBS systems (Vercise™, Vercise™ PC, and Gevia™ with Vercise™ or Cartesia™ leads; Boston Scientific). Key outcome measures include PDQ-39, UPDRS/MDS-UPDRS, Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI), Schwab and England Scale, and EQ-5D-5L. Safety data are collected through adverse event reporting.
Results: To date, 196 subjects have been enrolled, with 163 undergoing DBS system activation. The cohort had a mean age of 64.6 years, 70.3% were male, and the mean disease duration was 9.1 years. Motor function improved by 51% (25-point reduction) at 6 months, with sustained benefits at 1 and 2 years (21- and 22-point reductions, respectively). Quality-of-life outcomes, measured by the PDQ-39, showed significant improvements across multiple domains, including mobility, activities of daily living, bodily discomfort, emotional well-being, and stigma. More than 90% of both patients and clinicians reported sustained benefit at 6 months and 2 years. No unanticipated adverse events were observed. The most common serious adverse event was implant site infection (1.2%). Ongoing data collection will be analyzed and reported.
Conclusion: Early U.S. registry results demonstrate durable improvements in motor outcomes and quality of life with directional DBS systems featuring MICC, consistent with prior European experience. These data reinforce the real-world clinical utility of advanced DBS technology.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Okun, K. Foote, T. Zesiewicz, Y. Bezchlibnyk, A. Papanastassiou, O. Vaou, J. Carlson, J. Aldred, V. Krishna, B. Dalm, C. Luca, J. Jagid, J. Durphy, J. Pilitsis, L. Verhagen Metman, S. Sani, D. Kern, S. Ojemann, R. Shivacharan, E. Goldberg. Real-World Outcomes with Directional Deep Brain Stimulation Systems Featuring Multiple Independent Current Control: U.S. Experience [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/real-world-outcomes-with-directional-deep-brain-stimulation-systems-featuring-multiple-independent-current-control-u-s-experience/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/real-world-outcomes-with-directional-deep-brain-stimulation-systems-featuring-multiple-independent-current-control-u-s-experience/