Treating Balance Impairment of the Elderly With TMS-induced Brain Connectivity
Weinberg Medical Physics LLC
Summary
The goal of this study is to learn if manipulating the brain using magnets works to treat balance impairment, a major cause of falls, in older adults with balance problems. The technique to manipulate the brain using magnets is known as transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How does TMS change communication between brain areas? * Does TMS improve balance ability in older adults with balance problems? Researchers will compare the TMS group to a placebo group to see if manipulating the brain using magnets works to treat balance impairment. Participants will: * Receive TMS or placebo stimulation for 4 weeks. * Visit the laboratory for checkups and tests 3 times.
Description
Falls and fall-related injuries are a growing public health concern, particularly in regions of the world in which high proportions of the population are elderly. When these older adults are affected with neurological conditions such as stroke, neuropathies, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, the risk for falls increases more than 3-fold. Falls and the resulting fear of falls can mark the beginning of a decline in function, participation in social activities, and independence, thus negatively affecting the quality of life. The aim of this project is to use electroencephalography-guided…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: a) Able to provide informed consent b) All ethnic groups c) \>65 years of age d) ≥2 non-injury falls or ≥1 injury fall in the past year \[17\]-\[21\] e) Absence of dementia/uncontrolled psychiatric disorder h) Able to walk and stand for 5 min continuously independently without assistance (i.e., cane, walker, ankle foot orthotics, electric scooter). i) Willingness to undergo MRI, participate in the 4-weeks intervention AND in the laboratory studies before, immediately-after, and 3-month after the intervention. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Inability to provide informed consent.…
Interventions
- DeviceTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation
TMS (in the form of theta burst stimulations) will be delivered over Supplementary Motor Area while the subject is seated in the Treatment group. TMS is capable to induce neuroplastic facilitatory changes in the brain that last beyond the duration of stimulation. TMS will be delivered once daily, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks.
- DeviceTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation Sham
Sham TMS will be delivered in the sham group using a sham coil once daily, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks.
Location
- The Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research at the University of HoustonHouston, Texas