Scientists Decode Parkinson's Movements in Real-World Study

UCSF researchers use implanted brain sensors to track walking patterns outside the lab.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Researchers from UC San Francisco have successfully recorded brain activity from fully implanted devices while Parkinson's disease patients are at home, allowing them to reliably determine whether a person is walking or not based on individualized neural signatures. This is the first demonstration that a fully implanted device can be used to detect specific movement states during natural, at-home activities, which is an important step toward more personalized and responsive neuromodulation therapies.

Why it matters

Gait impairment is one of the most disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease, increasing fall risk and affecting independence and quality of life. Current deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy delivers continuous stimulation, but symptoms like walking difficulty can fluctuate throughout the day and often do not respond to DBS settings that treat other symptoms. This research establishes a framework for future adaptive DBS systems that could adjust stimulation in response to a patient's real-time activity state.

The details

In this feasibility study, four Parkinson's patients were implanted with a bidirectional DBS system that recorded neural activity from brain regions involved in movement. Wearable sensors provided simultaneous movement data, allowing researchers to match brain signals with periods of walking and other activities. The results showed that walking could be distinguished from non-walking states based on neural signals alone, with personalized patterns varying across individuals.

  • The study was published on February 13, 2026.

The players

Doris Wang

A neurosurgeon and associate professor of Neurological Surgery at UCSF, and the senior study author.

UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco, a world-renowned institution for graduate-level health sciences education and biomedical research.

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What they’re saying

“This is the first demonstration that a fully implanted device can be used to detect a specific movement state in humans during real-world activity. Our findings show that it is possible to identify meaningful neural signals outside the laboratory, which is an important step toward more personalized and responsive neuromodulation therapies.”

— Doris Wang, Neurosurgeon and associate professor of Neurological Surgery at UCSF

What’s next

The research team is now planning future trials to evaluate whether stimulation settings optimized for walking can be dynamically applied using these neural biomarkers.

The takeaway

This study represents a significant advancement in the ability to monitor and potentially treat Parkinson's disease symptoms in real-world settings, moving beyond the constraints of the laboratory and paving the way for more personalized and responsive neuromodulation therapies.