Motor Learning and tDCS in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson Disease Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effect of Single Session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Sequential Motor Learning in Parkinson's Disease

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04787406
• Other study ID #: HSEARS20181226002
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 7, 2019
• Est. completion date: September 27, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: February 2021
• Source: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The present study sought to examine the efficacy of single session transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance.

Description:

Parkinson's disease is characterised by deficits of motor control triggered by impaired basal ganglia function, such as bradykinesia and tremor. Beyond the visibly recognisable motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the ability to learn a sequence of movements is also compromised and poses a significant barrier to effective rehabilitation. In healthy individuals, transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex during motor task practice has been shown to significantly improve motor learning compared to placebo conditions. The present study sought to examine the effect of a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the primary motor cortex in people with Parkinson's disease on sequential motor learning performance. Participants learnt two finger tapping sequences, with task difficulty indexed by sequence length, and task consolidation further examined using a dual-task paradigm. Task related cortical haemodynamic activity was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 33
• Est. completion date: September 27, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: September 27, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 40 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Right-handed (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory; =50)

• Cognitively capable (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); =23)

• Mild to moderate Parkinson's disease severity (Hoehn and Yar disease stage 2-3)

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of stroke

• Comorbidity

• Cephalic implants

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Parkinson Disease

Intervention

Device:
• Transcranial direct current stimulation
Transcranial electrical stimulation device. A weak direct electrical current, up to 2 mA, is passed between two electrodes placed on the scalp. Electrodes are housed in 35 cm2 sponges saturated with 4 ml of saline solution (0.9 % NaCl) per side, per pad. Stimulation is phased in with a 30 second ramp up period prior to the specified stimulation period and phased-out with a ramp down of the current following the specified stimulation period. For sham stimulation, the ramp-up and ramp-down periods are retained, but stimulation is switched off for during the specified stimulation period.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Hong Kong	The Hong Kong Polytechnic University	Hong Kong	Hung Hom

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Hong Kong, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change from baseline sequential finger tapping performance	A skill index reflecting the accuracy and speed of which participants perform a specified finger tapping sequence.	Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
Primary	Change from baseline oxygenated haemoglobin response	Task related changes of oxygenated haemoglobin as measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.	Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention
Primary	Change from baseline shape-counting error	The percentage of shape counting error during dual task assessments. Sequential finger tapping + visual shape counting task.	Two assessments: Baseline / pre-intervention, and immediately post-intervention