Use of a Non-Invasive Brainstem Neuromodulation Device to Improve Neurovascular Status in Parkinson's Disease

NCT ID: NCT04598828

Last Updated: 2025-08-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-07-06
• Study Completion Date: 2024-10-07

Brief Summary

This study is a single-site, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial designed to elucidate mechanism(s) of action for symptomatic benefits observed in Parkinson's disease (PD)

Detailed Description

Patients treating twice daily using a non-invasive brainstem modulation device. Study participants will self-administer treatments in the home setting over a period of 12 weeks. Changes in cerebral blood flow perfusion, cerebrovascular reactivity and functional connectivity between the pre-treatment baseline and the end of the treatment period will be monitored and compared to changes in validated standardized clinical measures of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Treatment 1

Participants will receive Experimental treatment 1 stimulation for a duration of 12 weeks, twice daily for 19 minutes

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Non-invasive brainstem stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Study participants will self-administer \~19-minute treatments twice daily in the home setting using a non-invasive brainstem modulation device. The device has been deemed as a nonsignificant risk for studies in Parkinson's disease by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Treatment 2

Participants will receive Experimental treatment 2 stimulation for a duration of 12 weeks, twice daily for 19 minutes

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Non-invasive brainstem stimulation

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Study participants will self-administer \~19-minute treatments twice daily in the home setting using a non-invasive brainstem modulation device. The device has been deemed as a nonsignificant risk for studies in Parkinson's disease by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Interventions

Non-invasive brainstem stimulation

Study participants will self-administer \~19-minute treatments twice daily in the home setting using a non-invasive brainstem modulation device. The device has been deemed as a nonsignificant risk for studies in Parkinson's disease by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Must be 21-85 years old
• Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
• Within driving distance of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (Winston-Salem, NC)
• Responsive to Parkinson's medication for a minimum of 3 years
• Have ability to reliably use the investigational device
• Understand and complete all assessments (provided in English only)
• Be able to have 3 separate MRI scans (1.5 hours per MRI)
• Have a study partner/regular caregiver that is willing to participate in the trial
• Demonstrate moderate burden of motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms
• Consent to being videotaped during motor examination visit
• Willing to answer questions related to sexual interest, arousal and performance in an interview with study staff

Exclusion Criteria

• Cannot attend all study visits (4 on-site visits) or complete all study activities
• Heart attack, angina, or stroke within the past year
• Use medications that regulate heart rate
• Have a history or prior diagnosis of dementia
• Receiving deep brain stimulation therapy
• Treated with a pump for continuous delivery of dopamine replacement therapy
• Use of Apomorphine rescue
• Works night shifts
• Have any significant co-morbidity such as stroke, brain tumor, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, atypical Parkinsonism, or aneurysm
• History or evidence of unstable mood disorder or demonstrates evidence of suicidality
• Hearing aids that are implanted or cannot be easily removed and replaced, such as cochlear implants
• Chronic ringing in the ears for more than 3 months
• Diagnosed with traumatic brain injury with ongoing symptoms
• Recent history of substance abuse and/or dependence (alcohol or other drugs)
• Diagnosed balance dysfunction
• Eye surgery within the previous 3 months
• Ear surgery within the previous 6 months
• Active ear infection, perforated tympanic membrane, or inner ear inflammation
• Recent history of frequent ear infections (≥ 1 per year over the past two years)
• Contraindications for MRI scans, such as metal implants or a pacemaker
• Currently enrolled or have participated in another interventional clinical trial within the last 30 days
• Taking medication for vomiting or nausea more than 2 times per week, consistently
• Planned surgery scheduled to occur during the clinical trial that requires sedation and/or would typically be followed with a prescription for pain management
• Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during the the study

Women of child-bearing potential (i.e., are not yet 3 years removed from their first menopausal symptom), who are not abstinent or exclusively in same sex relationships must:

Test negative for pregnancy as indicated by a negative urine pregnancy test

Agree to use an approved contraception method

• Minimum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Christopher T Whitlow, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Locations

Wake Forest Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

IRB00067408

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id