High-Intensity Alternating Current Stimulation as an Add-On to Multidisciplinary Intensive Rehabilitation for...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL).
• Current rehabilitation therapies offer benefits but may lack durability.
• Exploring novel therapeutic adjuncts is crucial for enhancing PD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if high-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation (Hi-tACS) as an adjunct to multidisciplinary intensive rehabilitation therapy (MIRT) improves long-term QoL in Parkinson's disease patients.
• To compare the efficacy of Hi-tACS + MIRT versus MIRT alone in sustaining QoL improvements.
• To assess the impact on non-motor symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial involving 60 Parkinson's disease patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3).
• Participants received 10 days of MIRT with either twice-daily Hi-tACS or sham stimulation.
• Primary outcome: longitudinal change in PDQ-39 total score at 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-intervention.

Main Results:

• A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for PDQ-39 scores (P=0.008).
• The Hi-tACS + MIRT group showed significantly greater QoL improvements at 4, 12, and 24 weeks compared to sham (all P_FDR < 0.01).
• Superior improvements in depression and apathy were noted in the Hi-tACS + MIRT group; adverse events were mild and infrequent.

Conclusions:

• Hi-tACS as an add-on to MIRT provides durable improvements in QoL for Parkinson's disease patients.
• This combined approach effectively enhances non-motor symptoms, including depression and apathy.
• Hi-tACS represents a novel and effective strategy for Parkinson's disease rehabilitation.