High Frequency Light, Sound, and Tactile Stimulation to Improve Motor and Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson's Disease

Description

Parkinson's disease (PD) impacts different types of neural oscillations in the brain, including beta (13-30Hz) and gamma oscillations (30-80Hz), which contributes to PD's cardinal symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and gait instability. The investigators' lab has developed a non-invasive method of increasing gamma power in the brain using Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) through light, sound, and tactile stimulation devices. For this study, 40 participants with mild Parkinson's disease will be recruited, and the investigators will assess their brain waves with electroencephalogram (EEG) before, during, and after light, sound, and tactile stimulation to determine the safety, feasibility, and optimization of GENUS as a potential therapy in the PD population.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Parkinson's disease (PD) impacts different types of neural oscillations in the brain, including beta (13-30Hz) and gamma oscillations (30-80Hz), which contributes to PD's cardinal symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and gait instability. The investigators' lab has developed a non-invasive method of increasing gamma power in the brain using Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) through light, sound, and tactile stimulation devices. For this study, 40 participants with mild Parkinson's disease will be recruited, and the investigators will assess their brain waves with electroencephalogram (EEG) before, during, and after light, sound, and tactile stimulation to determine the safety, feasibility, and optimization of GENUS as a potential therapy in the PD population.

Acute Treatment of Parkinson's Disease With Gamma Frequency Stimulation

High Frequency Light, Sound, and Tactile Stimulation to Improve Motor and Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson's Disease

Condition
Parkinson Disease
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Cambridge

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02139

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Subject has Idiopathic PD defined by the cardinal sign, bradykinesia, plus the presence of at least 1 of the following: resting tremor or rigidity and without any other known or suspected cause of Parkinsonism (according to Movement disorder society (MDS) clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease confirmed by a fellowship trained movements disorder specialist
  • * Subject is Hoehn \& Yahr stage 2 to 3
  • * Subject has a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) score ≥26.
  • * Subject is \> 45 and \<90 years of age.
  • * proficient in speaking, reading, and understanding English
  • * capable of providing informed written consent
  • * Subject is on a stable dose (at least 1 month prior to baseline visit) of antiparkinsonian agents and willing to remain on this dose for the duration of the study. If on a cholinesterase inhibitor, a stable dose without changes for 1 month is required.
  • * Subject has undergone a brain CT or MRI prior to rule out underlying structural lesions
  • * Subject has atypical Parkinson's syndrome(s) due to drugs, metabolic neurogenetic disorders (e.g., Wilson's Disease), encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease, or degenerative disease (e.g., Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Degeneration, Lewy Body dementia)
  • * history of any psychiatric illness that would pose a safety risk
  • * diagnosis of dementia or other neurological conditions
  • * currently taking sedative medications that are clinically contraindicated
  • * has undergone recent change (\<1 month) in medication
  • * recent drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
  • * laboratory results the would pose safety risk
  • * concurrently or has participated in other clinical trial investigation within 3 months
  • * pregnant
  • * no healthcare
  • * history of epilepsy, stroke, or seizure in past 24 months
  • * diagnosis of migraines
  • * have certain implantable medical devices
  • * contraindications for MRI
  • * life expectancy of less than 2 years

Ages Eligible for Study

45 Years to 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Li-Huei Tsai, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Diane Chan, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Study Record Dates

2025-11