Efficacy of PoNS in Reducing Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

August 3, 2020 updated by: Helius Medical Inc

Examining the Efficacy of Non-invasive Neuromodulation in Reducing Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis - a Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether a program involving both in-lab and at-home training using cranial nerve stimulation (CN-NINM) delivered via the tongue can reduce symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and improve movement control and therefore provide ground work for a controlled clinical trial. The effects of the stimulation will be measured using a variety of standardized tests of movement control and cognitive function, functional brain imaging, and MS-specific surveys of your quality of life.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Fourteen MS patients, seven each in an active and a sham stimulation group are expected to participate.

Participants will receive intensive physical therapy and working memory training for 14 weeks.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using motor imagery and working-memory tasks will be completed prior to and following therapy, as will be sensory organization tests (SOT), motor performance measures, and neuropsychological assessment.

Prior to the start of CN-NINM training, each participant will undergo baseline evaluations including structural and fMRI, balance tests (SOT), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), neuropsychological assessment (Handedness; Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning; California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT)-11; D-Kefs Trails, Color/Word and Verbal Fluency; Tower of London Second Edition; Ruff 2 and 7; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Letter-Number sequencing, Coding and Symbol Search; Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT); Leonard Tapping; and Grooved Pegboard). In addition, the MS Impairment Scale, Fatigue Impact Scale, Cognitive Function Inventory for MS, and Beck Depression and Anxiety questionnaires will be completed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

14

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

24 years to 58 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Relapsing/remitting or secondary progressive MS with balance and gait problems;
  • Recent EDSS score of 3.0 - 6.0;
  • Provided informed consent and willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Use of tobacco products;
  • Oral health problems including abrasions, cuts, cold sores, piercings, or tissue inflammation in the oral cavity;
  • Baseline EDSS >6.

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: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active
Active group members use a device providing perceivable electrical stimulation
Device: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
Other Names:
  • PoNS
Sham Comparator: Sham
Group members use a device providing a non-perceivable stimulus
Device: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
Other Names:
  • PoNS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Dynamic Gait Index
Time Frame: 14 weeks
Scores are based on a 4-point scale where: 3 = No gait dysfunction; 2 = Minimal impairment; 1 = Moderate impairment; and 0 = Severe impairment. The highest possible score was 24 points. Tasks include: Steady state walking; Walking with changing speeds; Walking with head turns both horizontally and vertically; Walking while stepping over and around obstacles; Pivoting while walking; and Stair climbing.
14 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Helius Medical Inc

Collaborators

McGill University

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 (Actual)

December 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2016

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 29, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 29, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

August 3, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 5, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 3, 2020

Last Verified

August 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MS Pilot - Leonard, et al

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

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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