None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the study is to assess whether noninvasive stimulation of the cerebellum (base of the brain) can improve the symptoms of primary focal dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder that may be expressed, in part, due to dysfunction of motor networks in the brain including the cerebellum. There are few treatments currently available. If stimulating this region improves dystonia then it has potential to be used as a therapeutic intervention in the future.
Interventions
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) is a painless form of non-invasive brain stimulation. It is proposed to work by polarising brain tissue beneath the stimulating electrodes. Usually applied over the motor cortex, TDCS can either increase (anodal) or suppress (cathodal) excitability depending on electrode configuration. In this study, TDCS will be applied over the cerebellum. The current will be applied at 2mA for 20 minutes in three separate sessions, one week apart. The order of th
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) is a painless form of non-invasive brain stimulation. It is proposed to work by polarising brain tissue beneath the stimulating electrodes. Usually applied over the motor cortex, TDCS can either increase (anodal) or suppress (cathodal) excitability depending on electrode configuration. In this study, TDCS will be applied over the cerebellum. The current will be applied at 2mA for 20 minutes in three separate sessions, one week apart. The order of the sessions will be randomised. Two sessions will be cathodal, andodal and sham session. The randomisation order and the intervention will be applied by an independent investigator. Investigators who are collecting and analysing data will remaind blinded until the end of the study period.
Sponsors
Lynley Bradnam
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Over 18 years of age, Diagnosis of Primary Focal Dystonia by a neurologist No contraindications to TMS or TDCS (head injury, epilepsy, implanted devices, some medications) No other neurological or musculoskeletal disorder affecting the dystonic region
Exclusion criteria
Condtraindications to TMS or TDCS Musculoskeletal or neurological disorders other than primay focal dystonia affecting the body part Secondary Dystonia (eg after stroke or Parkinsons Disease) Generalised Dystonia
Outcome results
None listed