PET and MRI identification of metabolically injured brain and associated resting state networks to predict outcome of DBS chronic stroke therapy

Motivation: Determine which chronic post-stroke patients with hand motor deficits will benefit from cerebellar deep brain stimulation (DBS). Goal(s): Test the hypothesis that patients with metabolic injury to fewer rsfMRI networks experienced greater motor improvement after DBS. Approach: Analysis of baseline 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET identified the most metabolically injured brain region (“PET-max-imbalance-region”) for 12 patients. The total number of rsfMRI networks and volume of functionally connected brain associated with the “PET-max-imbalance-region” were calculated. Results: : Lower numbers of rsfMRI networks intersecting the “PET-max-imbalance-region” and total volumes of brain contained within networks and functionally connected to the “PET-max-imbalance-region” were associated with greater arm function improvement after DBS. Impact: Metrics quantifying the extent of resting-state functional MRI networks associated with the most metabolically injured brain region could be considered as inclusion/exclusion criteria when evaluating candidates for cerebellar deep brain stimulation treatment for chronic post-stroke hand motor deficits.