Pilot Study: Open Label Treatment With tDCS for Parkinson's and Related Disorders for Improvement of Speech, Gait and Mood
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Parkinson's Disease
- Sponsor
- Georgetown University
- Enrollment
- 10
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Improvement of Motor and Speech Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease or Related Disorders
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 11 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This research will help us to understand whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can safely improve recovery of speech and language abilities, gait , and mood in people with Parkinson's disease and related disorders. Some of the disorders that will be studied to understand if tDCS can be useful include Parkinson's Disease, Multi-System Atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Parkinson's disease or a related disorder (e.g. Multiple Systems Atrophy) as diagnosed by a neurologist specializing in Movement Disorders
- •Age \>= 18 years
Exclusion Criteria
- •Skull defect at or near site of tDCS delivery.
- •History of a significant stroke or traumatic brain injury.
- •History of other brain conditions that could impact interpretation of results (such as MS, brain tumor, encephalitis).
- •Presence of implanted electrical or metallic devices in the head or body (examples include cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, Baclofen pumps, deep brain stimulators, ventricular shunts with metallic parts, vagus nerve stimulators)
- •Presence of ferrous metal in the head (except titanium; for instance shrapnel)
- •History of psychiatric disease requiring hospitalization, electroconvulsive therapy, or ongoing medication use (other than common antidepressants)
- •Pregnancy
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Improvement of Motor and Speech Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease or Related Disorders
Time Frame: 16 weeks
We will perform an assessment of motor function using Part III of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), timed test of gait, and patient self-assessment. Speech functions will be assessed with sentence repetition,evaluation of spontaneous speech, and other standard language tests. The assessment will also include other measures and questionnaires (e.g. Bech Depression Inventory) to be filled out by the patient and his/her family.
Secondary Outcomes
- Improvement of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease or Related Disorders(16 weeks)