Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Nandakumar Narayanan

Must be taking: PD medication

Must not be taking: Investigational drugs

Disqualifiers: Lewy Bodies, Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how brain stimulation treatments can address cognitive issues in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), such as problems with attention, memory, and reasoning. The study will focus on three main treatments: deep-brain stimulation (a surgical procedure), transcranial alternating current stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. It seeks individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson's who experience memory or thinking problems affecting their daily lives. The goal is to understand why these issues occur and how to treat them more effectively. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could lead to new treatment options for cognitive issues in Parkinson's Disease.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

No, you don't need to stop your current medications. The trial requires participants to be on stable Parkinson's Disease medication.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

In a previous study, deep-brain stimulation (DBS) significantly improved movement in people with Parkinson's disease, with benefits lasting up to five years. DBS generally poses low risk when patients undergo proper screening, though those who have the procedure may require more frequent hospitalization.

Research has suggested that transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can enhance brain function and quality of life for Parkinson's patients. However, results were mixed; some studies showed improvements, while others did not find consistent benefits.

Safety data for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) indicate a low risk of side effects, with about 4% of people experiencing them. These side effects were usually mild and temporary. TMS has demonstrated some long-term benefits in improving thinking and movement in Parkinson's patients.

Overall, these treatments are generally well-tolerated, with specific risks and benefits for each. Discussing potential side effects and benefits with a healthcare provider is important to determine the best course of action. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about these brain stimulation treatments for Parkinson's Disease because they offer unique ways to manage symptoms. Unlike standard treatments like medication or surgery, Deep-brain Stimulation (DBS) directly targets brain circuits to help control movement. Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) uses gentle electrical currents through the scalp, potentially offering a non-invasive approach to modulating brain activity. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells, which might help improve motor function without the need for surgery. These innovative methods could provide new hope for patients seeking alternatives to traditional therapies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognitive symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

This trial will compare different brain stimulation methods for Parkinson's disease. Research has shown that deep-brain stimulation (DBS), one of the treatments tested in this trial, can improve movement and overall quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. Specifically, studies have found a 26% improvement in quality-of-life scores and long-lasting relief from movement problems over five years. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), another treatment option in this trial, is also associated with better movement and quality of life in Parkinson's patients. Similarly, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which participants in this trial may receive, significantly enhances both movement and thinking abilities. Reviews of multiple studies highlight TMS's effectiveness in boosting cognitive skills and reducing movement issues in Parkinson's disease. These findings suggest that each of these brain stimulation methods could help with movement and thinking problems in Parkinson's patients. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Parkinson's Disease patients experiencing cognitive symptoms like attention deficits and memory issues. It aims to understand and treat these impairments, which can lead to mild cognitive impairment or dementia in PD.

Inclusion Criteria

Diagnosis by Dr. Narayanan

I have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Parkinson's Disease by a neurologist.

I have Parkinson's with slight memory issues, can walk, and make decisions.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects with a history of neuropsychiatric disorders like Schizophrenia or Depression

I have Parkinson's and use a DBS device or have seizures.

I have a neurological disorder, such as epilepsy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo various brain stimulation and EEG recording sessions to study cognitive and motor functions

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Deep-brain Stimulation
• Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Trial Overview The study tests how brain stimulation techniques—Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation, Deep-brain Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation—affect brain rhythms linked to cognitive control in Parkinson's Disease.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group III: Deep-brain Stimulation (DBS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group IV: Observational Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Nandakumar Narayanan

Lead Sponsor

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Collaborator

Trials

1,403

Recruited

655,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30660117/

Long-term outcomes following deep brain stimulation for ... Conclusions: DBS for PD is associated with a 10-year survival rate of 51%. Survey data suggest that while DBS does not halt disease progression ...

2. ufhealth.org ufhealth.org/news/2025/uf-led-study-shows-deep-brain-stimulation-benefits-for-parkinsons-patients

UF-led study shows deep brain stimulation benefits for ... For the first time, we can clearly see that the benefits of DBS, improvements in motor symptoms, reduced medication needs and better quality of ...

3. ohsu.edu ohsu.edu/brain-institute/dbs-outcomes

DBS Outcomes | Brain Institute Improved quality of life: The same study found a 26% improvement in quality-of-life scores among DBS patients, compared to a 1% decline in patients taking ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2838886

Five-Year Outcomes from Deep Brain Stimulation of the ... From screening, a significant improvement in motor outcomes is reported 1 year after deep brain stimulation (DBS) and sustained out to 5 years.

5. parkinsonsnewstoday.com parkinsonsnewstoday.com/news/lasting-relief-parkinsons-motor-symptoms-found-dbs-us-study/

Lasting relief of Parkinson's motor symptoms found with DBS Deep brain stimulation, a surgical procedure known as DBS, provides relief of Parkinson's motor symptoms after five years, per a U.S. study.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10690827/

Deep brain stimulation in PD: risk of complications ... It is found that, when candidates are carefully screened, DBS is a relatively low-risk procedure, but rate of hospitalization is somewhat increased for DBS ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12439180/

Five-Year Outcomes from Deep Brain Stimulation of the ... This cohort study evaluates 5-year outcomes and safety of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson disease.

8. thejns.org thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/132/1/article-p205.xml

Long-term outcomes following deep brain stimulation for ... DBS for PD is associated with a 10-year survival rate of 51%. Survey data suggest that while DBS does not halt disease progression in PD, it provides durable ...