MedPath

Virtual Reality for Parkinson's Disease

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Virtual Reality Therapy
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Interventions
Behavioral: Virtual Reality
Behavioral: Exercise Therapy
Registration Number
NCT03637023
Lead Sponsor
Farzin Hajebrahimi, PT, MSc
Brief Summary

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease. Bradykinesia, tremor, resting tremor and postural instability are the main motor characteristics of this disease. As the disease progresses, mobility, walking, balance are reducing, the risk of falls is increasing and patients become functionally dependent. Along with these symptoms, cognitive functions are also disturbed. The most commonly distorted cognitive functions are executive functions such as planning and reasoning, working memory, episodic memory, attention and visual-spatial skills. Pharmacological and surgical treatments are used in Parkinson's disease. Pharmacologic treatment has a proven effect on motor symptoms, but since there is no approved pharmacologic treatment which has a direct effect on cognitive functions, recent studies suggest non-pharmacological treatments to improve cognitive function. Physiotherapy is also accepted among non-pharmacological treatments. Conventional physiotherapy focuses on optimizing patient independence and safety, focusing on hinting strategies, cognitive movement strategies and exercises utilizing transfers, posture, upper extremity function, balance (and falls), gait, physical capacity and (in)activity. Virtual Reality (VR) technology, a promising commonly used new rehabilitation tool, is a treatment method that can be used as one of the non-pharmacological treatment methods in Parkinson's Disease. In order to understand how neuronal network dysfunction in the Parkinson's Disease leads to clinical symptoms, both the component elements and the interconnections within these networks need to be examined in greater detail. Studies of resting state-fMRI (rs-fMRI) use correlation of activation of brain regions and time series fluctuations between brain regions to give information about connectivity in brain.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of virtual reality on motor and cognitive symptoms of PD. Furthermore, the investigation of possible effects of this effect on neuroplasticity through functional brain networks is our other objective. This study will be the first study to evaluate the plasticity effect of virtual reality application with rs-fMRI in Parkinson's disease.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • To be 50 years old and older
  • Clinical diagnosis of PD within the -framework of Brain Bank criteria
  • Getting a stable antiparkinsonian medication at least for the last 1 month (or the treatment has not changed)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Having a story of unstable medical condition
  • History of head trauma, stroke, or exposure to toxic substances
  • Implying Parkinson plus syndromes in neurological examinations; pyramidal, cerebellar examination findings, gaze paresis, autonomic dysfunction
  • Being diagnosed with Dementia

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Virtual RealityVirtual RealityVirtual Reality will be applied in addition to the Anti-parkinsonian medication given by the Neurologist.
Exercise TherapyExercise TherapyExercise Therapy will be applied in addition to the Anti-parkinsonian medication given by the Neurologist.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Motor LevelChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Motor (UPDRS-III)

NeuroplasticityChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Resting State Networks functional connectivity

Cognitive LevelChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Montreal Cognitive Asssessment (MoCA)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
BalanceChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

MobilityChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Timed Up and Go Test (TUG),

Balance ConfidenceChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

Quality of Life in patients with Parkinson's DiseaseChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39)

Functional CapacityChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

DepressionChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

Cognitive AssessmentChange from Baseline at 4 weeks.

Neuropsychological assessment test (NPT) battery

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

🇹🇷

Istanbul, Bağcılar, Turkey

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath