Brain Stimulation for Foot-sole Sensation in Older Adults With Foot-sole Somatosensory Deficits

Launched by HEBREW SENIORLIFE · Jan 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new way to help older adults who have trouble feeling sensations in their feet, which can lead to balance issues and difficulty walking. The study will use a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive method that gently stimulates the brain to improve how it processes sensory information. By enhancing the brain's ability to respond to sensations in the feet, researchers hope to improve balance and mobility for older adults experiencing mild to moderate sensory loss.

To participate, individuals must be 65 years or older and should feel unsteady or have difficulty standing and walking. They should also have a specific level of sensory impairment in their feet, which can be measured with a simple test. However, the trial has some exclusion criteria, meaning that certain health conditions or recent medical events may prevent someone from joining. Participants can expect to receive the brain stimulation and be monitored throughout the study to see if it helps improve their foot sensation, balance, and overall mobility. This research aims to find new ways to enhance quality of life for older adults facing these challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Aged ≥65 years.
• • 2. Self-reported feeling of unsteadiness or difficulty when standing and walking.
• • 3. Mild-to-moderate foot-sole somatosensory impairment: the ability to perceive 75g monofilament but inability to perceive 10g monofilament.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • self-reported 1) inability to stand or walk continuously for one minute without personal assistance (canes or walkers allowed); 2) history or presence of foot ulceration, amputation, or deformities; 3) self-reported uncontrolled pain or pain that is associated with mobility disability; 4) uncontrolled diabetes mellitus; 5) hospitalization within the past three months due to acute illness, or as the result of a musculoskeletal injury significantly affecting balance; 6) persistent severe pain of lower extremity when standing or walking; 7) diagnosis of dementia, Parkinson's disease, or stroke that affects balance; 8) unstable medical condition; 9) legal blindness or deafness; 10) uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic BP \>180, diastolic BP \>100 mm Hg, or prescription of ≥3 anti-hypertensive medications); 11) functionally limiting nephropathy, severe diseases or transplant of the kidney or liver, renal or congestive heart failure; 12) active cancer treatment; 13) balance disorders due to past use of chemotherapy or history of Guillain-Barré syndrome; 14) use of neuro-active or recreational drugs (e.g., sedatives, anti-psychotics), or alcohol abuse, which may affect the brain excitability; 15) contraindications to MRI or tDCS (e.g., personal or family history of seizures or epilepsy, metallic or electric bio-implants, claustrophobia, brain surgery); 16) persistent vertigo; 17) history of Charcot-Marie-Tooth nerve disease.