64 Participants Needed

Inner Ear Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

(VEST Trial)

DW
NB
JB
Overseen ByJaimie Barr, BSc
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Michigan
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Approved in 2 JurisdictionsThis treatment is already approved in other countries

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study investigates whether vestibular (inner ear) dysfunction is a cause for poor balance in Parkinson Disease (PD), and whether inner ear stimulation with a small device may improve balance. This study will involve clinical testing, brain imaging, and an interventional treatment device for symptoms.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is inner ear stimulation for Parkinson's disease safe?

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including tDCS and tACS, are generally considered safe when responsibly manufactured and legally marketed. Studies have shown that these devices, which are used for various conditions, have output levels well below those of many FDA-cleared devices, suggesting they do not introduce significant risk. In clinical trials, no severe adverse events were noted, although slight skin redness under the electrodes can occur.12345

How does the inner ear stimulation treatment for Parkinson's disease differ from other treatments?

The inner ear stimulation treatment for Parkinson's disease is unique because it uses a non-invasive neuromodulation device that applies electrical currents to the brain, unlike deep brain stimulation which involves surgical implantation. This method is portable, cost-effective, and aims to modulate brain networks without the need for surgery, potentially offering a safer and more accessible option for patients.36789

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Inner Ear Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease?

Research shows that non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have shown promising results in improving nonmotor symptoms such as depression and cognitive dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease. These techniques are also being explored for their potential to improve movement disorders by modulating brain networks.5671011

Who Is on the Research Team?

CP

Chatkaew Pongmala, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people who have had Parkinson's Disease for at least 5 years and are experiencing balance issues. They should be in the Hoehn & Yahr stages 1.5-4, which measures disease progression. Those with other conditions that mimic PD or ear problems like Meniere's disease cannot join, nor can those with brain lesions on MRI, metal implants that affect MRI safety, severe claustrophobia, exposure to too much radiation recently, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or active mood disorders.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had Parkinson's disease for 5+ years or my condition is moderately severe.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects limited by participation in research procedures involving ionizing radiation
Pregnancy (test within 48 hours of each PET session) or breastfeeding
I do not have conditions like PSP, MSA, or others that mimic Parkinson's disease.
See 6 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive investigational treatment stimulation pattern 1 or 2

1 week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Non-invasive neuromodulation device
Trial Overview The study is testing two patterns of non-invasive neuromodulation devices designed to stimulate the inner ear to see if they can improve balance and gait in Parkinson's patients. Participants will undergo clinical tests and brain imaging alongside using these treatment devices.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Investigational Treatment 2Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Investigational Treatment 1Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Non-invasive neuromodulation device is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

🇺🇸
Approved in United States as Non-invasive neuromodulation device for:
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Approved in European Union as Non-invasive neuromodulation device for:

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,891
Recruited
6,458,000+

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Collaborator

Trials
881
Recruited
502,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Transcranial noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, including rTMS and tDCS, show promising potential for treating nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, particularly depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions.
Current studies are preliminary, highlighting the need for more rigorously controlled trials with larger, well-defined participant groups to better assess the efficacy and safety of these interventions.
Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Implications for Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.Rektorová, I., Anderková, Ľ.[2018]
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed very low quality evidence for improving motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), specifically reducing scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III, but no significant effects on overall impairment or health-related quality of life were found.
The review included six trials with 137 participants, and while tDCS did not lead to higher dropout rates or adverse events compared to control, the overall evidence was insufficient to support its use as an effective treatment for IPD.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for idiopathic Parkinson's disease.Elsner, B., Kugler, J., Pohl, M., et al.[2022]
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, particularly transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), show promise in modifying brain network dysfunction associated with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease and dystonia, offering a cost-effective treatment option.
While techniques like transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial alternating current stimulation have been studied, there is still a need for more research on newer methods like transcranial pulsed current stimulation and transcranial random noise stimulation to fully understand their therapeutic potential.
Non-invasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Movement Disorders.Ganguly, J., Murgai, A., Sharma, S., et al.[2020]

Citations

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Implications for Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. [2018]
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. [2022]
Non-invasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Movement Disorders. [2020]
Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Treat Depression in HIV-Infected Persons: The Outcomes of a Feasibility Study. [2021]
Current challenges: the ups and downs of tACS. [2020]
Limited output transcranial electrical stimulation (LOTES-2017): Engineering principles, regulatory statutes, and industry standards for wellness, over-the-counter, or prescription devices with low risk. [2018]
Safety considerations for deep brain stimulation: review and analysis. [2007]
Designing and pilot testing a novel high-definition transcranial burst electrostimulation device for neurorehabilitation. [2022]
Tolerability and blinding of 4x1 high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) at two and three milliamps. [2020]
10.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Cerebellar Cortex as a Therapeutic Target for Neurostimulation. [2022]
Treatment of motor and non-motor features of Parkinson's disease with deep brain stimulation. [2022]
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