Motor Learning and Multi-session tDCS in Parkinson's Disease

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Parkinson Disease

Treatments: Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04811066

HSEARS20200203002

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study seeks to examine the efficacy of multi-session transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance.

Full description

Parkinson's disease is characterised by deficits of motor control triggered by impaired basal ganglia function, such as bradykinesia and tremor. Beyond the visibly recognisable motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the ability to learn a sequence of movements is also compromised and poses a significant barrier to effective rehabilitation. In healthy individuals, transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex during motor task practice has been shown to significantly improve motor learning compared to placebo conditions.

The present study seeks to examine the effect of multi-session transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance. Participants will be required to attend eight laboratory sessions, comprising five intervention and three assessment sessions and will be tested on their ability to learn a 16-digit finger tapping sequence with their right hand. Sessions one to five will form the intervention and will be performed at the same time on consecutive days (i.e. mon-fri). In addition, session one will double as a baseline assessment and intervention session. Assessments sessions will be performed once before the intervention (session one), and three times following the intervention on day three, one week, and four weeks post intervention.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Right-handed (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory; ≥50)
• Cognitively capable (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); ≥23)
• Mild to moderate Parkinson's disease severity (Hoehn and Yar disease stage 2-3)
• On stable dopaminergic medication

Exclusion criteria

• History of stroke
• Comorbidity
• Cephalic implants

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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48 participants in 3 patient groups

Anodal tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. 20 minutes of stimulation at 2 mA with a 30-second phase-in and phase-out period.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Cathodal tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. 20 minutes of stimulation at 2 mA with a 30-second phase-in and phase-out period.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Sham tDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Anodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over C3. Cathodal electrode (35 cm2 sponge electrode) placed over the right supraorbital area. Stimulation was phased in for 30 seconds up to 2 mA and then switched off. Stimulation was again phased in for 30 seconds following 20 minutes of no stimulation.

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation