Gait disturbance and postural instability are some the most disabling symptoms of idiopathic
Parkinson's disease and in late stage disease can be resistant to both medical and surgical
therapies. We implanted bilateral deep brain stimulation electrodes into the
pedunculopontine nucleus in two patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. We
demonstrate for the first time that low frequency (20–25 Hz) stimulation of this nucleus
significantly improves gait dysfunction and postural instability in both the 'on'and …