Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
08:53
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
873
Multitarget Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Freezing of Gait: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Brad Manor1,2,3, Moria Dagan4,5, Talia Herman4
1Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) did not improve freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease patients in lab tests. However, tDCS did reduce self-reported FOG severity and improve daily step counts in some individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Freezing of gait (FOG) significantly impacts Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
- Current treatments for FOG in PD remain suboptimal.
- Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to address FOG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of multiple transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sessions on FOG.
- To investigate tDCS effects on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex (M1).
Main Methods:
- A double-blinded randomized trial involving 77 individuals with PD and FOG.
- Intervention included 10 tDCS sessions over 2 weeks, followed by 5 weekly sessions.
- Outcomes measured included FOG-provoking test performance, functional measures, and self-reported FOG severity.
Main Results:
- No significant improvement in FOG-provoking test performance with tDCS compared to sham.
- tDCS led to decreased self-reported FOG severity and increased daily step counts.
- Individuals with mild-to-moderate FOG showed improved FOG test time and reduced FOG severity.
Conclusions:
- Multisession tDCS targeting dlPFC and M1 did not enhance laboratory-based FOG performance.
- Observed improvements in mild-to-moderate FOG warrant further research.
- tDCS may offer benefits for specific FOG symptom dimensions.
