Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Parkinson's Disease

Summary

The use of low level electrical stimulation when applied over the head, also called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is being tested by several groups of researchers to see if tDCS can improve movements of persons with damage to the brain. The safety and potential benefits of tDCS to children or adults patients who are paralyzed because of brain damage are reported in the medical literature. In addition, some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience improvement in memory and report better use of the hand after tDCS. The treatment requires putting electrodes (pads) over the head and sending very small amount of electrical current that the patient may feel as "little tingling". Application of tDCS takes 20 min. In this study we wish to test if tDCS application can improve stepping and walking ability of subjects with PD and if the improvement is the same as when walking on treadmill. We plan to test the subject's ability to step when pulled by a laboratory testing system and also test his/her walking ability. There will be 3 sessions 7 days apart. In the first session the subject will be tested then treated for 20 min with tDCS and then tested again. In the second session the subject will be tested then walk on a treadmill for 20 min then tested again. In the third session the subject will be tested then walk on the treadmill for 20 min while receiving also tDCS and tested one last time at the end of the session. Each session will take between 2 and 3 hours.

Conditions

• Parkinson's Disease

Interventions

DEVICE

Cranial Electric Stimulation (CES)

We will follow the procedure described by several investigators as safe and effective. The participant will sit on a standard chair. Two commercially available surface electrodes will be embedded in an elastic head cup. Each electrode will be covered with a water soaked absorbent fabric. One positive (+) electrode will be placed over the primary motor cortex (M1) and pre-motor areas. One negative (-) electrode will be placed over the skin overlying the contra lateral supra-orbital region. The electrodes will be connected via 2 leads to a battery powered direct current stimulator. The stimulator will be programmed to deliver 0.975mA (peak 4mA) over 20 minutes.

DEVICE

Treadmill

The participant will walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes at the individually self-selected velocity determined at baseline.

DEVICE

CES and Treadmill

Participants will have a combined session with CES while walking on the treadmill for 20 minutes at the individually self-selected velocity determined at baseline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maryland, Baltimore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gad Alon, PhD, PT · University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Mark W Rogers, PhD, PT · University of Maryland, Baltimore

• Lisa Shulman, MD · Univeristy of Maryland, Baltimore

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-01-31

Primary Completion

2011-06-30

Completion

2011-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations