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tDCS for Dual-task Performance in Patients With PD

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Interventions
Device: transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Registration Number
NCT04504422
Lead Sponsor
Seoul National University Hospital
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the optimal stimulation location of transcranial direct current stimulation to improve the dual-task performance in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease caused by dopamine deficiency in the striatum resulting from the loss of dopaminergic neuronal cells in the cerebral substantia. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor symptoms including gait disturbance and balance instability. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, dysfunction of the sensorimotor area of the basal ganglia typically occurs, leading to habitual control hurdles. Accordingly, cognitive efforts are required to perform habitual tasks such as walking, and the automaticity of walking is reduced. Walking performance in a dual-task condition has been used to assess gait automaticity in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that can be used to change cortical activity. Recently, there has been growing attention on tDCS as an adjunct tool for rehabilitation. Several tDCS studies in patients with PD have reported the positive results of tDCS on motor function. However, few studies have reported the therapeutic effect of tDCS on the dual-task performance in PD. In addition, inconsistent results have been reported because tDCS protocol has been applied in various way. Therefore, this study aims to investigate an optimized stimulation site of tDCS that could improve the dual-task performance in patients with PD.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinically diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson's disease
  • modified Hoehn & Yahr stage 2, 2.5, or 3
Exclusion Criteria
  • History of seizure
  • Metallic implants, such as cardiac pacemaker or an artificial cochlea
  • Patients with inflammation, burns, or wounds in the stimulation area
  • Parkinson's disease dementia; cut-off is < 7 of Korean-Montreal Cognitive Assessment for illiterate patients, < 13 for those educated for 0.5-3 years, < 16 for 4-6 years of education, < 19 for 7-9 years of education, and < 20 for 10 or more years of education.
  • Severe dyskinesia or severe on-off phenomenon
  • Plan to adjust medication at the time of screening
  • Sensory abnormalities of the lower extremities, other neurological or orthopedic disease affecting lower extremities, or severe cardiovascular diseases
  • Vestibular disease or paroxysmal vertigo
  • Pregnant or lactating patients
  • Other comorbidities that make it difficult to participate in this study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sham stimulationtranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)The anodic electrode is positioned in the primary motor cortex (Cz) and the cathode electrode on the right orbital frontal cortex (Fp2). The current increases to 2.0 mA during first 30 seconds, decreases to 0 mA over 30 seconds, and then stops supplying for 19 minutes.
Left dorsolateral prefrontal cortextranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)The anodic electrode is positioned in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) and the cathode electrode on the right orbital frontal cortex (Fp2). The current increases to 2.0 mA over a period of 30 seconds, maintains 2.0 mA for 19 minutes, and decreases to 0 mA over 30 seconds.
Ventromedial prefrontal cortextranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)The anodic electrode is positioned in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (Fpz) and the cathode electrode on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F4). The current increases to 2.0 mA over a period of 30 seconds, maintains 2.0 mA for 19 minutes, and decreases to 0 mA over 30 seconds.
Primary motor cortextranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)The anodic electrode is positioned in the primary motor cortex (Cz) and the cathode electrode on the right orbital frontal cortex (Fp2). The current increases to 2.0 mA over a period of 30 seconds, maintains 2.0 mA for 19 minutes, and decreases to 0 mA over 30 seconds.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Cognitive dual-task interference (%) in Timed-up & go testImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session

Percentage of dual-task interference calculated by the difference between dual-task and single-task performance \[Percentage of dual-task interference=(Dual-task performance - Single-task performance)/Single-task performance\]

Physical dual-task interference (%) in Timed-up & go testImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session

Percentage of dual-task interference calculated by the difference between dual-task and single-task performance \[Percentage of dual-task interference=(Dual-task performance - Single-task performance)/Single-task performance\]

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Timed-up & go test (sec): physical dual-taskImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session
Stroop testImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session
Trail making testImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session
Digit span testImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session
Timed-up & go test (sec): cognitive dual-taskImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session
Timed-up & go test (sec): single taskImmediately after a 20-minute tDCS session

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Seoul National University Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

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