Combining exercise and transcranial direct current stimulation to improve movement in Parkinson's disease

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, blinded, controlled trial will compare real tDCS plus exercise, sham tDCS plus exercise, and exercise alone in a large sample of people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Participants on stable antiparkinsonian medication who meet cognitive and medical safety criteria will complete supervised exercise sessions with concurrent tDCS or sham stimulation at the Center of Sport Research in Fuenlabrada, Madrid. Motor outcomes will be measured before and after the intervention using clinical scales, and EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation will probe changes in cortical excitability, motor preparation, and synaptic plasticity. The design aims both to see if tDCS potentiates exercise-related motor gains and to clarify underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, established according to the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank Criteria.

Ability to understand and comply with study procedures.

Stable antiparkinsonian medication regimen prior to study participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

Significant cognitive impairment, defined as a score \< 23 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Below-average premorbid intelligence, defined as a score \< 40 on the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Third Edition (WAIS-III).

Clinically significant depression, defined as a score \> 10 on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).

Current treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors.

Presence of severe cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to:

Congestive heart failure

Ischemic heart disease

Cardiac pacemaker

Orthostatic hypotension

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

History of stroke or traumatic brain injury.

History of seizure disorder or epilepsy.

Presence or prior implantation of a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device.

History of major orthopedic surgery that could interfere with motor performance or gait.

Presence of implanted electronic devices, including cardiac pacemakers, incompatible with study procedures.

Where it's running

• Center of Sport Research
  Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Miguel Angel Fernández del Olmo, PhD — Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
• Study coordinator: Eduardo Villamil Cabell, PhD
• Email: eduardo.villamil@urjc.es
• Phone: +34 666 66 81 05

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.