NCT01113086

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to determine whether repetitive sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the prefrontal cortex can enhance the cognitive, affective and motor functioning of those with Parkinson's Disease. In this study we will compare active tDCS with sham tDCS. Each subject will receive two consecutive weeks of stimulation (Monday through Friday). A battery of neuropsychological and affective tests will be administered throughout the duration of the study.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
12

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2009

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2009

Completed
5 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 20, 2010

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 29, 2010

Completed
2.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2013

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2013

Completed
Last Updated

April 24, 2020

Status Verified

April 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

3.2 years

First QC Date

April 20, 2010

Last Update Submit

April 23, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

ParkinsonTranscranial direct current stimulationMotor functionCognitive functionAffective function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Evidence of improvement in general motor functioning in patients with Parkinson's.

    Measured by various indexes, including Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Simple Reaction Time, 4-Choice Reaction Time, Purdue Pegboard Test, Finger tapping, walking time, buttoning up and supination-pronation.

    after treatment (10 days) and at follow up (1 and 2 months after final stimulation)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Evidence of improvement in cognitive functioning in the areas of: executive function, reasoning, visuospatial ability, and working memory for patients with Parkinson's.

    after treatment (10 days) and at follow up (1 and 2 months after final stimulation)

Study Arms (4)

Left active anodal DLPFC

EXPERIMENTAL

We will place the anodal electrode on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Stimulation will be given at 2 mA for a total of 20 mins for 10 consecutive sessions (Monday through Friday).

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Right active anodal DLPFC

EXPERIMENTAL

We will place the anodal electrode on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Stimulation will be given at 2 mA for a total of 20 mins for 10 consecutive sessions (Monday through Friday).

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Sham tDCS

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Sham tDCS: For sham-controlled tDCS subjects, the same montage will be used; however current will be applied for only 30 seconds.

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Open-Label Arm

OTHER

In addition to this study we will have an open label arm in which subjects who received sham stimulation through the course of the study will have the opportunity to receive active stimulation free of charge. The same parameters and identical procedures as is done in the original study will be used. Data will be collected as an open label, which will therefore provide additional information. Data obtained from this open label portion of the study will be kept separate.

Device: Transcranial direct current stimulation

Interventions

Subjects will receive a total of 10 stimulation sessions on consecutive days, Monday- Friday for a total of two weeks. During each session, 2 mA of tDCS will be applied for 20 minutes over the left or right DLPFC (active or sham).

Also known as: tDCS, direct current stimulation
Left active anodal DLPFCOpen-Label ArmRight active anodal DLPFCSham tDCS

Eligibility Criteria

Age40 Years - 90 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Diagnosis of "probable" PD, defined by the presence of at least 2 out of 3 cardinal motor features of PD (resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, plus a sustained and significant response to dopaminergic treatment);
  • Age 40 or over;
  • Taking stable medications for at least 30 days

You may not qualify if:

  • Features suggestive of other causes of parkinsonism/ parkinson-plus syndromes;
  • History of deep brain stimulation or ablation surgery, mass brain lesions;
  • History of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, other psychosis, bipolar illness, alcohol/drug abuse within the past year;
  • Need for rapid clinical response due to conditions such as initiation, psychosis, or suicidality;
  • Contraindications to tDCS\*
  • metal in the head
  • implanted brain medical devices
  • Unstable medical conditions (eg. uncontrolled diabetes, uncompensated cardiac issues heart failure, pulmonary issues, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
  • Pregnancy

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Berenson Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation

Boston, Massachusetts, 02125, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian DisordersBasal Ganglia DiseasesBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesMovement DisordersSynucleinopathiesNeurodegenerative Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation TherapyTherapeuticsConvulsive TherapyPsychiatric Somatic TherapiesBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesElectroshockPsychological Techniques

Study Officials

  • Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD

    Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Ross Zafonte, DO

    Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 20, 2010

First Posted

April 29, 2010

Study Start

December 1, 2009

Primary Completion

March 1, 2013

Study Completion

March 1, 2013

Last Updated

April 24, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-04

Locations