#68: Todd Herrington – The Future of Neuromodulation: Insights from the ADAPT PD Trial and Beyond

Stimulating Brains

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Todd Herrington, a leading neurologist and director of the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Herrington specializes in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, tremor, and dystonia, and his research focuses on the motor, cognitive, and psychiatric effects of DBS, leveraging intraoperative and noninvasive neurophysiology and neuroimaging to advance neuromodulation therapies.

Today, we’ll explore his key role in the ADAPT PD trial, a groundbreaking multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of adaptive DBS for Parkinson’s disease. This trial, led by Dr. Helen Brontë-Stewart at Stanford, introduced a neurostimulator capable of sensing local field potentials and dynamically adjusting stimulation in real time based on a patient’s brain activity. We’ll discuss how this technology represents a shift toward personalized DBS therapy and what it means for the future of neuromodulation.

In the second part of our conversation, we’ll delve into broader topics, including the mechanism of action of DBS, novel neuromodulation approaches, and the potential role of stem cell therapy in movement disorders. Dr. Herrington shares his expert insights on how these advancements shape both our scientific understanding and the clinical application of DBS. From improving motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease to pioneering adaptive neurostimulation, his work is at the forefront of innovation in the field.