Effects of multiple sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with motor exercise on locomotion and balance in people with Parkinson's Disease

• Grant number: 23/12924-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Victor Spiandor Beretta
• Grantee: Victor Spiandor Beretta
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Augusto Cesinando de Carvalho ; Diego Orcioli da Silva ; Fabio Augusto Barbieri ; Paulo Cezar Rocha dos Santos ; Rodrigo Vitório ; Ronaldo Valdir Briani

Abstract

The present proposal involves an innovative randomized clinical trial with an international partnership to investigate the effects of a safe and low-cost transcranial electrical stimulation intervention (i.e., transcranial direct current stimulation - tDCS) combined with physical exercise in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). The study aims are (i) to analyze the effect of multiple tDCS sessions combined with physical exercises on locomotion and balance in people with PD and (ii) to analyze the effect of this intervention on cortical activity during these tasks. Thirty-four individuals with PD will participate in the present study (parallel arms, double-blind, and sham-controlled). They will be randomly distributed into the experimental group (EG - n=17) and the control group (CG - n=17). Both groups will receive 10 sessions of tDCS combined with physical exercise focused on improving gait and balance. EG will receive the active tDCS for 20 min with 3 mA, while CG will receive the active tDCS only for 30 sec (sham). The anodal tDCS, in both groups, will be applied simultaneously in the primary motor (M1) and prefrontal cortices (i.e., multitarget) of the most affected cerebral hemisphere. Locomotion and balance, as well as motor and prefrontal cortices activity during locomotion and balance, will be evaluated before, 24 hours after the 10th session, and one month after the intervention. To analyze objective parameters of locomotion and balance, inertial sensors (Opals, APDM, Portland, OR, USA) and the Mobility Lab software will be used. In addition, cortical activity will be evaluated by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRSport1, NIRx, Medical Technologies, LLC). (AU)