NCT05353517

Non-invasive Assessment of Synaptic Plasticity

Non-invasive Assessment of Brain and Spinal Synaptic Plasticity in Patients Affected by Movement Disorders

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Neuromed IRCCS · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Movement Disorders, including Parkinson's disease, have been related to altered synaptic plasticity affecting several structures of the central nervous system. Although several previous neurophysiologic investigations have shown abnormal long-term potentiation and depression-like plasticity in M1, other regions crucially involved in motor planning and execution, including the spinal cord, have been studied less. Parkinson's disease arises from the progressive loss of dendritic spines followed by atrophy of specific cortical (i.e. M1) and subcortical structures (i.e. putamen). These structural changes are responsible for the main clinical features of PD such as bradykinesia and rigidity. The present research project aims to probe non-invasively the main pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying altered synaptic plasticity in M1 and spinal cord and their relationship in a cohort of patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease. More in detail, the investigators will use specific methodologies able to induce plasticity, including the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), concerning the M1 and the focal muscle vibration, regarding the spinal cord. The neuromodulation protocol will imply 2 separate sessions, randomly scheduled to take into account the effect of the symptomatic pharmacologic treatment. Furthermore, patients will be randomly assigned to sham or real non-invasive stimulation groups. Before and after the stimulation protocol, the investigators will collect specific clinical as well as neurophysiologic measures (i.e., thresholds) according to standardized procedures. In conclusion, the goal of the study is to investigate the abnormal plasticity in the M1 and spinal cord in patients affected by specific movement disorders, through non-invasive techniques.

Conditions

• Movement Disorders
• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Device: focal muscle vibration and theta burst stimulation	non invasive techniques of neuromodulation for inducing plasticity in M1 and spinal cord

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-12-01
• Primary completion: 2022-12-31
• Completion: 2023-12-31
• First posted: 2022-04-29
• Last updated: 2023-03-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy