Non-invasive Neurostimulation in Parkinson's Disease

January 26, 2021 updated by: Felipe Fregni, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Effects of Non-invasive Neurostimulation Methods on Motor Function in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

In this study, the investigators aim to investigate the effects of non-invasive neurostimulation - low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation in conjunction with transcranial ultrasound (TUS)- on the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. The investigators want to see if there is a difference between active and sham stimulation on these motor symptoms.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

48

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02144
        • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documentation of PD diagnosis from their clinician by either a letter or verification through their medical record
  • Research criteria of "possible" or "probable" PD, as defined by Gelb et al (Gelb D, Oliver E, Gilman S. Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson Disease. Arch Neurol.1999;56:33-39)[1]
  • Age 40 or over;
  • Taking stable medications for at least 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Features suggestive of other causes of parkinsonism/Parkinson's-plus syndromes;
  • History of deep brain stimulation or ablation surgery, mass brain lesions;
  • History of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, other psychosis, episode of bipolar illness, alcohol/drug abuse within the past year;
  • Need for rapid clinical response due to conditions such as initiation, psychosis, or suicidal;
  • Contraindications to transcranial brain stimulation or TUS, i.e. metal in the head, implanted brain medical devices, etc;
  • Unstable medical conditions (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes, uncompensated cardiac issues, heart failure, pulmonary issues, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
  • Pregnancy.
  • Epilepsy or disorders that increase likelihood of seizures including: moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, congenital birth defects leading to seizures, brain tumor, metabolism disorders associated with seizures, and nonlacunar stroke.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active Electrical Stim/Active Ultrasound
Subjects will undergo active low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation in conjunction with active transcranial ultrasound for 20 minutes.
Procedure: low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation of up to 2mA. During active stimulation, the current will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the current will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Procedure: transcranial ultrasound
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Sham Comparator: Sham Electrical Stim/Sham Ultrasound
Subjects will undergo sham (placebo) low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation in conjunction with sham transcranial ultrasound for 20 minutes.
Procedure: low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation of up to 2mA. During active stimulation, the current will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the current will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Procedure: transcranial ultrasound
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Active Comparator: Active Electrical Stim/Sham Ultrasound
Subjects will undergo active low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation in conjunction with sham (placebo) transcranial ultrasound for 20 minutes.
Procedure: low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation of up to 2mA. During active stimulation, the current will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the current will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Procedure: transcranial ultrasound
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Active Comparator: Sham Electrical Stim/Active Ultrasound
Subjects will undergo sham (placebo) low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation in conjunction with active transcranial ultrasound for 20 minutes.
Procedure: low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation of up to 2mA. During active stimulation, the current will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the current will not be active for the full 20 minutes.
Procedure: transcranial ultrasound
Subjects will undergo 20 minutes of transcranial ultrasound. During active stimulation, the ultrasound will be active for 20 minutes - however, during sham stimulation (placebo) the ultrasound will not be active for the full 20 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Motor Function
Time Frame: Measured for approximately 2 months
We will measure motor symptoms using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), bradykinesia tests and walking tests. We will assess the changes in these scales from baseline.
Measured for approximately 2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety
Time Frame: Measured for approximately 2 months
We will measure safety using a battery of electrophysiology, cognitive and neurological safety markers. We will use the Scales for Outcomes in PD-Cognitive (SCOPA-COg), the n-back working memory test, adverse effects questionnaire, electroencephalography (EEG) and a standardized neurological exam
Measured for approximately 2 months
Neurophysiological Changes
Time Frame: Measured for approximately 2 months
We will also use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Doppler Ultrasound to assess electrophysiology and cerebral bloodflow markers.
Measured for approximately 2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Collaborators

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Highland Instruments, Inc.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Timothy Wagner, PhD, Highland Instruments, Inc.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

September 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 30, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 8, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

June 11, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 27, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 26, 2021

Last Verified

January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2012-p-001120
  • 1R44NS080632-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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