The brain network that links thinking with movement, called SCAN, was first described by WashU Medicine researchers in 2023 and has been identified in a new

The brain network that links thinking with movement, called SCAN, was first described by WashU Medicine researchers in 2023 and has been identified in a new

The substantia nigra and all Parkinson’s disease deep-brain stimulation targets are selectively connected to the somato-cognitive action network rather than to effector-specific motor regions.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects more than 1 million people in the United States and over 10 million worldwide. The disease causes a wide range of debilitating symptoms, including tremors, difficulty with movement, sleep problems, and cognitive decline. Current treatment options, such as long-term medications and invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS), can reduce symptoms, but they do not stop the disease from advancing or offer a cure. An international research team led by China's Changping Laboratory, working alongside Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other partners, has identified a specific brain region linked to the central features of Parkinson's disease.

A new international study points to a specific brain network as the core driver of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists found that this network becomes overly connected, disrupting not just movement but also thinking and other bodily functions. When researchers targeted it with non-invasive brain stimulation, patients showed much stronger symptom improvement than with conventional stimulation. The discovery could reshape how Parkinson’s is diagnosed and treated.