NCT07534397

Treatment of Cognitive and Sensorimotor Deficits in Parkinson's Disease With High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to examine the effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on verbal retrieval and cognition and sensorimotor control and to determine if tDCS can be used as a way to improve retrieval, sensory, and motor abilities in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Detailed description

Objective: Based on models of semantic memory retrieval developed by our group, under which the pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA) of the dorsomedial frontal lobes play an important role, we propose to treat cognitive deficits in PD with HD tDCS applied to the preSMA to improve function in neural circuits supporting verbal retrieval. In addition, as the preSMA is implicated in motor planning and sequencing, we are also exploring whether HD tDCS applied to the preSMA will have an effect on speech and gait. Specific Aims: 1. Examine the therapeutic effects on verbal retrieval function by modulating the preSMA using HD tDCS. 2. Examine the therapeutic effects on speech production and processing by modulating the preSMA using HD tDCS 3. Examine the therapeutic effects on gait and balance by modulating the preSMA using HD tDCS Hypotheses: 1. : Active HD tDCS (1 ma anodal HD tDCS to the preSMA compared to sham) will improve verbal fluency (i.e, phonemic and category fluency on Controlled Word Association Test) as primary outcome measures. 2. : Active HD tDCS (1 ma anodal HD tDCS to the preSMA compared to sham) will improve speech sequencing. 3. : Active HD tDCS (1 ma anodal HD tDCS to the preSMA compared to sham) will improve general motor sequencing

Conditions

• PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	transcranial direct current stimulation	Transcranial direct current stimulation will be delivered via a Neuroelectrics Starstim tES. Stimulation will consist of 1 milliamp stimulation, with anodal stimulation delivered at electrode Fz (International 10/10 System for electroencephalography electrode placement) and electrodes F7, FP1, FP2, and F8 as returns. All electrodes are 1 cm diameter Ag/AgCl electrodes and make contact with the scalp via connective gel. Stimulation will linearly ramp up from 0 milliamps to 1 milliamp over 60 seconds, then remain at 1 milliamp of stimulation over 20 minutes, and finally ramping down at to 0 milliamps over 60 seconds.
DEVICE	Sham transcranial direct current stimulation	Sham transcranial direct current stimulation will be delivered via a Neuroelectrics Starstim tES. The sham setup will consist of anodal electrode Fz (International 10/10 System for electroencephalography electrode placement) and electrodes F7, FP1, FP2, and F8 as returns. All electrodes are 1 cm diameter Ag/AgCl electrodes and make contact with the scalp via connective gel. Stimulation will linearly ramp up from 0 milliamps to 1 milliamp over 60 seconds, ramp down to 0 milliamps over 60 seconds and then be left off for 20 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-05-01
• Primary completion: 2027-10-31
• Completion: 2027-10-31
• First posted: 2026-04-16
• Last updated: 2026-04-16