RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06993571

Cerebellar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Modulate Parkinson's Disease Tremor

Closed-loop Phase-adaptive Cerebellar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Modulate Activity in the Cerebello-thalamo-cortical Network to Reduce Parkinson's Disease Tremor

Sponsor

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Enrollment

10 participants

Start Date

Apr 16, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Tremor Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by different motor symptoms, including tremor, which is particularly difficult to manage. Common treatments, such as dopaminergic therapy, can have limitations in efficacy. Recent advancements in non-invasive brain stimulation, specifically phase-adaptive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), offer a promising approach to reduce PD tremor. In the current project, a newly developed closed-loop system delivers precisely synchronized cerebellar tACS by aligning stimulation with the intrinsic hand tremor signal. The study will assess the efficacy of this novel approach to reduce hand tremor in PD patients.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease based on UK Brain Bank criteria
Patient exhibiting moderate to severe hand tremor
Provision written informed consent by the patient

Exclusion Criteria3

History of other neurological disorders such as vascular malformations, ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke, cerebral neoplasia, epilepsy, or major psychiatric illness
Existence of heart pacemaker or metal implants in the body
Pregnancy

Interventions

DEVICEActive-tACS

30 seconds of closed-loop tACS at 2-4 mA, with 6 alternating phase alignments and 1-3 repetitions. Phase alignment is adjusted to the patient's tremor frequency and rhythm in real time. Administered using the neuroConn LOOPIT device and 2 electrodes placed on the cerebellum and jaw, with an area of 5x5 and 5x7 respectively. The stimulation begins with a 3-second ramp-up and ends with a 3-second ramp-down.

DEVICESham-tACS

30 seconds of tACS at 0 mA and 1-3 repetitions. Administered using the neuroConn LOOPIT device and 2 electrodes placed on the cerebellum and jaw, with an area of 5x5 and 5x7 respectively. The sham protocol begins with a 3-second ramp-up and ends with a 3-second ramp-down.

DEVICEUnlocked-tACS

30 seconds of open-loop tACS at 2-4 mA, with no phase alignments and 1-3 repetitions. Administered using the neuroConn LOOPIT device and 2 electrodes placed on the cerebellum and jaw, with an area of 5x5 and 5x7 respectively. The stimulation begins with a 3-second ramp-up and ends with a 3-second ramp-down.