Beta-Band and Aperiodic Activity Across New and Chronic Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND

Neurophysiological biomarkers in Parkinson's disease (PD) are increasingly used for deep brain stimulation (DBS). Their long-term utility is not clear, especially when transitioning to sensing-guided DBS years post-surgery.

OBJECTIVES

Beta-band power, bursting activity, and periodic and aperiodic components of local field potentials recorded from DBS electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) were compared between a group of newly and chronically (6.7 ± 4.0 years) implanted PD patients. Clinical severity was rated using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III).

RESULTS

Beta-band power and burst amplitude were significantly higher and aperiodic offset and exponent were significantly lower in the chronically implanted cohort. Periodic peak frequency and power were not significantly different. Clinical severity correlated with cumulative burst time and burst rate. A longitudinal subset showed no change in peak frequency or power.

CONCLUSIONS

STN beta-band-related biomarkers inform disease state of de novo and chronic PD-DBS cohorts, with signal properties relevant for sensing-guided DBS preserved over time. © 2026 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.