Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Fine Motor Skills in Parkinson's Disease: a Pilot Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- KU Leuven
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in writing amplitude
Study Overview
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 Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Participant)
Eligibility Criteria
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
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
- •Family history of Epilepsy
- •Other contra-indications for tDCS and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- •Other neurological, psychiatric or interfering upper limb problems
Arms & Interventions
Anodal tDCS
20 minutes, 1.0 mA unilateral-anodal motor cortex (M1) tDCS stimulation
Intervention: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (Device)
Sham tDCS
20 minutes, sham tDCS stimulation
Intervention: transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in writing amplitude
Time Frame: post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)
Centimeter (cm)
Change in writing velocity
Time Frame: post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week)
Centimeter per second (cm/s)
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in cortical silent period (cSP)(post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week))
- Change in speed on the Purdue Pegboard task(post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week))
- Change in cortical excitability(post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week))
- Change in Short-Latency Intracortical Inhibition (SICI)(post-stimulation (immediately after) and retention (1 week))
Investigators
Alice Nieuwboer
Professor
KU Leuven