Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Fine Motor Skills in Parkinson's Disease: a Pilot Study

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Parkinson's Disease; Handwriting; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Fine Motor Skills
• Interventions: Device: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

• Registration Number: NCT02287207
• Lead Sponsor: KU Leuven

Brief Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain activity and fine motor skills in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to healthy controls.

Detailed Description

The pilot study will involve a double-blind, sham controlled cross-over design where participants will receive anodal and sham tDCS stimulation in a randomized order. Differences in brain activity and fine motor skill performance between groups and after tDCS stimulation will be compared.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-11-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-11-06
• Study First Posted: 2014-11-10
• Study Start: 2015-10
• Status Verified: 2015-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-04
• Study Completion: 2016-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-06-06
• Last Update Posted: 2016-06-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed with idiopathic PD, according to the UK Brain Bank criteria
• Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage II in the 'on'-phase of the medication cycle
• Right dominant PD

Exclusion Criteria

• Cognitive impairment (MMSE < 23)
• Visuo-spatial deficits (measured by the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test)
• Left-handedness (evaluated by the Edinburgh Handedness scale)
• Depression
• Pregnancy
• Alcohol abuse
• Aneurysm clips
• Pacemaker
• Neurostimulator
• Implemented defibrillator
• Magnetically activated implant or device
• Implemented pump
• Spinal cord simulator
• Implemented hearing aid
• Artificial or prosthetic limb
• Metal parts in the body
• Any external or internal metal
• Artificial heart valve
• Other implants
• History of brain surgery
• Migraine
• Family history of Epilepsy
• Other contra-indications for tDCS and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Other neurological, psychiatric or interfering upper limb problems

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Anodal tDCS	transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)	20 minutes, 1.0 mA unilateral-anodal motor cortex (M1) tDCS stimulation
Sham tDCS	transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)	20 minutes, sham tDCS stimulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in writing amplitude	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Centimeter (cm)
Change in writing velocity	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Centimeter per second (cm/s)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in cortical silent period (cSP)	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Measured with single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic
Change in speed on the Purdue Pegboard task	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Number of pegs placed in 30 seconds
Change in cortical excitability	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) peak to peak amplitude and latency - Measured with single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic
Change in Short-Latency Intracortical Inhibition (SICI)	post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)	Measured with double-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CatholicULeuven; 🇧🇪 Leuven, Belgium