Apr 22, 2026
Episode 5 of “ReTuneIn”: Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation: From Biomarkers to Brain States
In the latest episode of the ReTune podcast “ReTuneIn”, neurologists Prof. Andrea Kühn and Prof. Jens Volkmann discuss current developments in adaptive deep brain stimulation and the broader evolution of neuromodulation strategies in Parkinson’s disease.
Prof. Kühn, Professor of Neurology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, provides insights into state-dependent stimulation approaches and the role of emerging electrophysiological biomarkers such as gamma activity. She outlines how adaptive DBS builds on real-time brain signals to better capture fluctuations in neural activity and improve therapeutic precision. Drawing on clinical experience, she highlights how these approaches are beginning to reshape treatment paradigms in Parkinson’s disease.
Prof. Volkmann, Professor of Neurology at the University Hospital Würzburg, reflects on the challenges of translating technological innovation into meaningful clinical outcomes. He emphasizes the importance of large-scale data and artificial intelligence in identifying patient-specific patterns and guiding personalized stimulation strategies. His perspective underscores the gap that often exists between technical feasibility and clinical applicability.
Together, Kühn and Volkmann explore the limitations of single-signal approaches and discuss the need to better account for dynamic brain states and network-level activity. They highlight how future neuromodulation strategies may move toward more physiologically informed stimulation patterns that adapt to the individual patient.
The episode provides a comprehensive view of how advances in biomarkers, data-driven approaches, and clinical experience are converging to shape the next generation of adaptive and patient-centered neuromodulation therapies.
Listen to Episode 5 now:
© Picture: UK Würzburg / Götz Schleser
