The Role of Cerebellar Hyperactivity in Parkinson's Disease

Completed

Conditions studied: Parkinson's Disease

In brief

Gait and balance disturbances are one of the most incapacitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) (Boonstra et al. 2008). They can cause falls and are therefore associated with the negative spiral of (near) falls, fear of falling, fractures, reduced mobility and social isolation; hence, having a profound negative impact on quality of life (Lin et al. 2012). Originally, symptoms of PD were ascribed to dopamine deficiency and basal ganglia dysfunction (Wu et al. 2013). However, in the last decades it has become clear that other brain structures are also involved in the pathophysiology of PD (Snijders et al. 2011; Stefani et al. 2007). An intriguing, emerging insight is that the cerebellum may be involved in the pathophysiology of PD (Wu et al. 2013). That is, the cerebellum is hyperactive in PD patients during different motor tasks (Yu et al. 2007; Hanakawa et al. 1999; del Olmo et al. 2006). However, whether cerebellar hyperactivity is pathological or compensatory and how it affects gait and balance in PD patients remain open questions. Here, the investigators aim to elucidate the role of the hyperactive cerebellum in gait dysfunction in PD patients by modulating cerebellar excitability with state-of-the-art non-invasive brain stimulation techniques and investigate the effects on gait.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02349789

Run by

Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

People needed

11

Starts

2015-01-28

Expected to finish

2017-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2019-02-15

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Mild-moderate (Hoehn and Yahr scale: 1.5-3) idiopathic, akinetic-rigid type Parkinson's disease.
• Capable of walking for 5 minutes.

You may not qualify if…

• Severe dyskinesia
• Congestive heart failure.
• Peripheral artery disease with claudication.
• Cancer. Pulmonary or renal failure. Unstable angina. Uncontrolled hypertension (> 190/110 mmHg). Brain injury. History of seizure or a family history of epilepsy. Metal anywhere in the head except the mouth. Cardiac pacemakers. Cochlear implants. Implanted medication pump. Heart disease. Intracardiac lines. Increased intracranial pressure, such as after infarctions or trauma. Currently taking tricyclic anti-depressants or neuroleptic medication. History of head trauma. History of respiratory disease. Dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 26; Frontal Assessment Battery < 13). Orthopedic or pain conditions. Pregnancy.

Where it is running

• Kennedy Krieger Institute — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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