Imagine trying to walk on a narrow path, but every few steps, your feet feel glued to the ground, making it nearly impossible to move forward. This is similar to what individuals with freezing of gait (FoG) experience in Parkinson’s disease (PD). A recent study sought to delve into the cortical mechanisms that contribute to FoG during walking tasks. By using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, the researchers measured changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin in different brain regions involved in movement control. They found that FoG patients exhibited less activation in the prefrontal cortex and premotor cortex compared to PD patients without FoG and healthy controls. Additionally, the FoG group showed a unique pattern of functional connectivity between these regions, suggesting impaired communication within the motor network. These findings provide insights into the potential underlying mechanisms of FoG in PD, which may help inform future interventions and treatments for this debilitating symptom.
The Institute for the Future of Human Potential
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