Exercise and Plasticity in Parkinson Disease

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Parkinson Disease

• Registration Number: NCT05786261
• Lead Sponsor: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo"

Brief Summary

We will study the effects of intensive rehabilitation in PD on plasticity with a multimodal approach. We will define first, whether exercise in PD restores the potentiation of the motor cortex to normal levels with both 5 Hz-rTMS PAS and beta modulation and whether such improvements are accompanied by structural changes studied with diffusion MRI tractography and network analysis (Aim 1). With the study of muscle synergies and spatiotemporal organization of the spinal motoneuronal output during gait and reaching movements we will define the presence of functional changes in spinal cord mechanisms and connectivity and whether such changes are global or involve selective districts (Aim 2). Finally, we will study post-exercise changes in sleep pattern, as sleep is impaired in PD and plays a crucial role in the definition of plasticity-related phenomena (Aim 3). This project will generate breakthrough data on the mechanisms of exercise, novel biomarkers to monitor efficacy of treatments and thus, possibly leading to better restorative, disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies for PD.

Detailed Description

We will study the effects of intensive rehabilitation in PD on plasticity with a multimodal approach. We will define first, whether exercise in PD restores the potentiation of the motor cortex to normal levels with both 5 Hz-rTMS PAS and beta modulation and whether such improvements are accompanied by structural changes studied with diffusion MRI tractography and network analysis (Aim 1). With the study of muscle synergies and spatiotemporal organization of the spinal motoneuronal output during gait and reaching movements we will define the presence of functional changes in spinal cord mechanisms and connectivity and whether such changes are global or involve selective districts (Aim 2). Finally, we will study post-exercise changes in sleep pattern, as sleep is impaired in PD and plays a crucial role in the definition of plasticity-related phenomena (Aim 3)

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-02-10
• Status Verified: 2023-02
• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-15
• Study First Posted: 2023-03-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-27
• Last Update Posted: 2023-03-29
• Primary Completion: 2024-02-10
• Study Completion: 2024-02-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

Idiophatic Parkinson Disease

• H&Y stage I-II stable medication

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe comorbid medical illness (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension); history of known causative factors (encephalitis or neuroleptic treatment); other neurologic disability; chronic treatment for sleep complaints; history of seizure, including febrile seizures, family history of epilepsy; pacemakers, neurostimulators, tattoos, metal foreign bodies in the head area; recurrent visual hallucinations; fluctuating cognition, attention or alertness; depression (HAMD> 12) or dementia (MMSE <24).

Controls will be age- and education- matched subjects.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
functional magnetic resonance	1 month	assessment of the functional and structural plasticity changes after MIRT

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
EMG	1 month	muscle synergies and spatiotemporal organization of the spinal motoneuronal output during gait and reaching movements we will define the presence of functional changes in spinal cord mechanisms and connectivity and whether such changes are global or involve selective districts

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo"; 🇮🇹 Messina, Italy