tDCS for Parkinson's Disease

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Seizures, Metal implants, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 session

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown the potential to improve symptoms in patients with movement deficits, such as Parkinson's disease and chronic stroke. However, the effects of tDCS have so far not been proven on a wider scale due to lack of knowledge regarding exactly how tDCS works. This has limited the adoption of this potentially useful therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease, chronic stroke and other conditions affecting movement. The investigators hypothesize that by studying the effects of tDCS in subjects performing a motor task, the brain signals mediating improvements in motor control will be identified. The investigators will use both noninvasive and invasive methods to explore this hypothesis. The investigators expect this combined approach to broaden understanding of tDCS application in conditions affecting movement and possibly lead to therapeutic advances in these populations.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Nathan C Rowland, MD,PhD

Principal Investigator

Medical University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who have previously agreed to be contacted about research studies at the Medical University of South Carolina. It's not suitable for pregnant individuals, those with scalp issues, a history of seizures, metal implants in the head/neck area, prior brain surgery or radiotherapy, or past intracranial tumors/infections/malformations.

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18 or older

Previous consent to be contacted regarding potential participation in a research study at Medical University of South Carolina

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy

You have had surgery inside your skull before.

You have had radiation treatment to your brain before.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or sham stimulation while performing motor tasks

1 session

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in motor cortical beta oscillations after tDCS or sham stimulation

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• sham transcranial direct current stimulation (noninvasive recording)
• transcranial direct current stimulation (invasive recording)
• transcranial direct current stimulation (noninvasive recording)

Trial Overview The study tests how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, affects motor control in Parkinson's disease and stroke patients. Participants will undergo tDCS with both noninvasive and invasive recording methods to see if it improves movement symptoms.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Stimulation (invasive recording) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation will be studied using electrocorticography combined with transcranial direct current stimulation

Group II: Stimulation (noninvasive recording) Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients with Parkinson's disease or chronic stroke will be assigned to undergo EEG recording and transcranial direct current stimulation.

Group III: Sham (noninvasive recording) Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Patients with Parkinson's disease or chronic stroke will be assigned to undergo EEG recording and sham transcranial direct current stimulation.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

994

Recruited

7,408,000+