Freezing of Gait Symptoms in Parkinson Disease, Parkinson Disease
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is investigating the use of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) on the Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in changing freezing of gait in people with Parkinson's disease. The PPN is noted to be involved in voluntary movements, locomotion, and muscle tone. This will be assessed by patient-reported outcomes and analyzing the gait. The study will also investigate the effects of the stimulation on the PPN and surrounding connectivity by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Detailed description
To evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of Pedunculopontine nucleus transcranial ultrasound stimulation (PPN-TUS) in reducing freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using advanced gait analyses and patient-reported quality of life outcomes. Investigate changes in brain functional connectivity caused by PPN-TUS using resting state functional magnetic (rsfMRI) and Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL). The study will recruit 25 PD patients with FOG and 25 healthy controls, matched for age and sex, in a randomized, cross-over design. Visit 1: Obtain anatomical MRI for TUS planning and rsfMRI for functional connectivity analysis in PD patients with FOG. This session also includes baseline clinical evaluation, kinematic gait analysis in the ON-medication state. Between Visits 1 and 2: Structural MRI data of each participant will be processed using BabelBrain software to configure the TUS parameters. The depth required to stimulate the PPN will be calculated, and a precise model of the pressure distribution and thermal dynamics of the TUS based on individual skull thickness and geometry will be created. Visits 2-4: The TUS will be applied using a 4-element NeuroFUS LT system (BrainBox Neuro Ltd., UK). This system allows for adjustments of the focus point of the ultrasound, which in essence changes the stimulation depth. Participants receive excitatory, inhibitory, or sham TUS for three sets of sonication, targeting the PPN bilaterally, with each stimulation set separated by one hour (accelerated TUS). We will be using excitatory and inhibitory protocols since DBS has complex excitatory and inhibitory effects and it is not known whether excitatory or inhibitory protocols will be most effective. The type of sonication (excitatory, inhibitory, or sham) will be the same within a visit but different across visits. The visits will be spaced at least a week apart to allow for a washout period. The stimulation will target both left and right PPN, sonicating each side sequentially with a 1-minute break in between to allow adjustment of the transducer. The order of which side is to be stimulated first will be counterbalanced across participants. Both hemispheres will be stimulated with the same condition (e.g., both sham if it is a sham session). Functional connectivity using rsfMRI and clinical assessments will be measured pre- and post-sonication. Healthy subjects will undergo MRI study in one session to establish the normal range for rsfMRI and CBF measured by ASL. This will allow us to establish whether the rsfMRI and CBF findings in PD patients at baseline are normal and whether TUS of PPN normalize these patterns.
Interventions
DEVICEExcitatory Stimulation
Excitatory Stimulation to the PPN
DEVICEInhibitory Stimulation
Inhibitory Stimulation to the PPN
DEVICESham
Sham stimulation to PPN
Sponsors
Robert Chen
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 18-90 years of age * Confirmed diagnosis of a movement disorder with Freezing of Gait * Stable dopaminergic medication dose for a minimum of 4 weeks
Exclusion criteria
* History of stroke or seizure * Comorbid dementia * Scored below 22 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) * Has intracranial implant(s) or device(s) * Has an implanted cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) * Has a previous surgical intervention to treat the movement disorder such as lesioning or a DBS system in place. * Presence of metal implanted in body that is contraindicated in TMS/MRI * Pregnancy * Major depression/psychiatric disorder that in the opinion of the Investigator will affect patient's understanding of study procedures and willingness to abide by all procedures during the course of the study * Is on antipsychotics, marijuana, or other recreational drugs that affect the nervous system * Major musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disease or disorder of the hands, wrists and limbs * Major systemic illness or infection
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire | Occurs twice at Visits 2, 3, and 4. For each of those visits, it will be conducted once before stimulation and another after stimulation. | — |
| Timed Up-and-Go Task | Occurs twice at Visits 2, 3, and 4. For each of those visits, it will be conducted once before stimulation and another after stimulation. | — |
| ZenoTM Walkway | Occurs twice at Visits 2, 3, and 4. For each of those visits, it will be conducted once before stimulation and another after stimulation. | Mat that detects pressure data during standing and walking to evaluate gait such as speed, profile, step time, step length, strid time, stride length, and more. |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
CONTACTJulian Kwok
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRobert Chen, MD
University Health Network, Toronto
Outcome results
None listed