Personalized Stimulation Loop for Neurorehabilitation in Parkinson: a Proof-of-principle Study (StimuLOOP_PD-S)

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Parkinson Disease

Treatments: Other: TASS Intervention (Verum); Other: TASS Intervention (Sham)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07082595

2024-01941 (Other Identifier)

StimuLOOP_PD-S

Details and patient eligibility

About

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects about 1% of the elderly population and accounts for substantial disability and health care costs. Disability is largely driven by mobility deficits caused by impaired gait. Effective treatments are available to restore lower limb function and improve gait, but response to treatment varies greatly from patient to patient and often shows only small effect sizes. Addressing this heterogeneity requires personalization, a concept referred to precision neurorehabilitation.

StimuLOOP.PD-Sleep intends to foster structured and reproducible methods for precision neurorehabilitation of gait in PD. The investigators will conduct a proof-of-concept study to investigate a sleep intervention tailored to the individual patient in the context of motor rehabilitation.

• Targeted auditory stimulation during sleep (TASS): The investigators aim to reactive rehabilitation-related memories through presentation of auditory stimuli during sleep with the goal of promoting motor memory consolidation into stable motor commands.

The investigators will leverage TASS to enhance consolidation of the movement patterns that are learned during rehabilitation.

The investigators expect that this intervention will lead to greater gains in functional walking ability and balance. Beyond demonstrating a proof-of-concept for novel methods of applying TASS stimulation in the context of neurorehabilitation, positive results of this project may have implications for neurorehabilitation treatment in general by providing first insights into the benefits and interplay of TASS with a rehabilitation.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Idiopathic Parkinson's disease with gait and postural stability deficits
• ≥18 years of age
• UPDRS III gait scores 1-3
• UPDRS III postural instability scores 1-3
• Prescribed rehabilitation therapy
• Informed consent as documented by signature
• Adjustments in dopaminergic medication and DBS stimulation to improve

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive impairment, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) < 20
• Other neurological or medical condition that caused sustained clinically relevant gait and/or postural stability deficits
• History of a physical or neurological condition that interferes with study procedures
• Social and/or personal circumstances that interfere with the ability to return for assessments
• Patients taking benzodiazepines or Z-drugs that have a significant effect on sleep EEG
• Recent DBS implant (≤ 6 months)
• Inability to perform outcome assessments without walking aid
• Skin disorders/problems/allergies in face/ear area that could worsen with electrode application (e.g. nickel allergy)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Sham arm

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Control targeted auditory stimulation during sleep during motor rehabilitation (TASS sham intervention)

Treatment:

Other: TASS Intervention (Sham)

Verum arm

Experimental group

Description:

Targeted auditory stimulation during sleep during motor rehabilitation (TASS verum intervention)

Treatment:

Other: TASS Intervention (Verum)