Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Improve Motor Function and Motor Fatigue in Parkinson's Patients
Sanford Health
Summary
The investigators hypothesize that multi-session anodal tDCS (atDCS) of the left primary motor cortex (M1) will induce long-lasting effects in improving motor function and reducing motor fatigue and fatigability in PD patients.
Description
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing and second most common neurodegenerative disease (after Alzheimer's disease) and affects approximately one million people in the United States. Impaired motor function is one of the cardinal features of PD. One of the diagnostic criteria for PD is bradykinesia (slowness of movement). In addition to bradykinesia, PD patients also suffer from increased motor fatigue and motor fatigability. In the body of fatigue research, the term "motor fatigue' usually refers to the general sensation of tiredness or of difficulty in initiating physical activity e…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Not specified
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of PD with at least two of the four diagnostic criteria for PD (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability) * Must be able to consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with dementia (MOCA \< 21) * PD treatment using deep brain stimulation (DBS) * Diagnosis of psychosis * Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis * Diagnosis of stroke * Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) * Diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF)
Interventions
- Devicetranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)
2 mA will be administered for 5 consecutive days for a duration of 20 minutes with electrode placement at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- DeviceSham (No Treatment)
For 30 seconds, the patient will experience a ramp up of the stimulation, after which point no stimulation will be transmitted for the remainder of the session. This will be administered for 5 consecutive days for a duration of 20 minutes with electrode placement at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Location
- Sanford Brain and Spine CenterFargo, North Dakota