Mild Cognitive Impairment
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), gaze and gait training to improve walking and balance in people with or without mild cognitive impairment.
Detailed description
The study plan is to recruit a total of 15 cognitively impaired and 15 healthy adults. The study will involve two visits. Each study visit will involve: * Real rTMS or sham rTMS that last about 60 minutes * Gaze stabilization exercise via a virtual reality headset for about 1-hour * Target stepping on a treadmill for about 1-hour Researchers will compare changes in gaze and gait following training sessions with real rTMS and sham rTMS.
Interventions
DEVICERepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
10 Hz rTMS for 5 seconds over the frontal eye fields with 25 second intertrain interval for 10 trains (500 pulses) at 90% of the resting motor threshold,
BEHAVIORALGait training
Subjects will practice stepping on virtual targets with real-time feedback of their foot position displayed on a screen while walking on a treadmill.
BEHAVIORALGaze training
Subjects will perform gaze stabilization and gaze shifting exercise via a virtual reality headset.
DEVICESham rTMS
Sham rTMS stimulation will produce discharge noise and vibration without stimulating the cerebral cortex.
Sponsors
University of Florida
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 - 80 years * Capable of providing informed consent and complying to the experimental procedures
Exclusion criteria
* Significant gait difficulty requiring ambulatory aids * Presence of implanted device such as a neurostimulator, cochlear implant or pacemaker * History of epilepsy * History of hearing issues
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Foot Placement Error from baseline 1 | Beginning and end of Visit 1, an average of 8 hours | Foot position relative to stepping targets. |
| Change in VOR Gain from baseline 1 | Beginning and end of Visit 1, an average of 8 hours | The amount of eye relative to head movement during active head rotations. |
| Change in Foot Placement Error from baseline 2 | Beginning and end of Visit 2, an average of 8 hours | Foot position relative to stepping targets. |
| Change in VOR Gain from baseline 2 | Beginning and end of Visit 2, an average of 8 hours | The amount of eye relative to head movement during active head rotations. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Timed Up and Go (TUG) from baseline 1 | Beginning and end of Visit 1, an average of 8 hours | The TUG assesses mobility, balance, waking ability and fall risk in older adults. A higher risk for falling is indicated by \>= 12 seconds to complete the test. |
| Change in Timed Up and Go (TUG) from baseline 2 | Beginning and end of Visit 2, an average of 8 hours | The TUG assesses mobility, balance, waking ability and fall risk in older adults. A higher risk for falling is indicated by \>= 12 seconds to complete the test. |
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJulia Choi, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Outcome results
None listed