The Role of EEG in Identifying Cognitive Changes in Parkinson's Disease

Launched by FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PARAÍBA · Nov 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how certain exercises combined with brain stimulation can help improve thinking and cognitive skills in people with Parkinson's disease. Participants, aged 40 to 70, will take part in sessions three times a week for four weeks, which will include treadmill training and special exercises that challenge both thinking and movement at the same time. The researchers will assess how well these activities work by using various tests and measuring brain activity through a method called EEG.

To join the trial, participants must be diagnosed with classic Parkinson's disease and be currently taking medication for their symptoms. They should have a good understanding of their mental abilities and be able to walk a short distance. The study will not include individuals with other serious health conditions or those who have had specific medical procedures that might affect their ability to participate. Overall, this trial aims to see if the combination of physical and cognitive exercises can lead to better cognitive performance in people living with Parkinson's disease.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • being diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease by a neurologist based on definitive evidence of responsiveness to levodopa at the start of the disease and the history of progressive hypokinesia with asymmetric onset. PD will be diagnosed based on Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank (PDSBB) criteria, as described in Hughes et al. (1992)
• • Age between 40 and 70 years, with no distinction for sex, schooling level or other sociodemographic characteristics;
• • disease staging between 1.5 and 3, according to the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale (Hoehn and Yahr, 1998);
• • undergoing regular pharmacological treatment with levodopa (equivalent dose \> 300 mg) or taking antiparkinsonian medication, such as anticholinergics, selegiline, dopamine agonists, and COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase) inhibitors for at least 4 weeks prior intervention;
• • score of more than 24 points on the Mini-Mental State Examination (Folstein et al., 1975);
• • not exhibiting other associated neurological diseases; and
• • no musculoskeletal and/or cardiorespiratory changes that could compromise gait.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • diagnosis of atypical Parkinson's disease;
• • neuropsychiatric comorbidities;
• • convulsions, metal clips and/or pacemaker;
• • deep brain stimulation implant;
• • history of epilepsy; neurosurgery;
• • traumatic brain injury;
• • alcohol abuse or drug dependency;
• • associated diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system;
• • undergoing physical therapy at another location;
• • inability to walk 10 meters;
• • presence of important dyskinesia that prevents the participant from sitting in a chair;
• • abnormal and persistent increase in systemic blood pressure before or during training, after three measurements taken 5 min apart-Cut-off: systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic ≥ 90 mm Hg (Malachias et al., 2016);
• • not understanding any of the training protocol stages; chemical scalp treatment within the previous 30 days, and experiencing severe pain and/or discomfort that precludes performing the proposed activities.