real tDCS and exercise for Parkinson's (NCT07524400)
Improve movement with brain stimulation
- Trial ID
- NCT07524400
- Official Title
- Effects of the Combination of Physical Exercise and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Motor Function and Underlying Neurophysiological Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
- Goal
- Improve movement with brain stimulation
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 100 participants
- Conditions
- Parkinson' Disease
- Interventions
- real tDCS and exercise, Sham tDCS and exercise, Exercise
Summary For Families
The trial asks whether pairing exercise with noninvasive brain stimulation can improve motor function and the underlying brain activity that supports movement in Parkinson's. Participants do supervised exercise while receiving either real transcranial direct current stimulation, sham stimulation, or exercise alone; tDCS delivers a low electrical current across the scalp to boost cortical excitability and plasticity, which may enhance motor learning and rehabilitation, and it is given alongside stable antiparkinsonian medications rather than replacing levodopa. About 100 adults with idiopathic Parkinson's diagnosed by UK Brain Bank criteria and on stable meds are sought, while people with significant cognitive impairment, major depression, seizure history, deep brain stimulators or other implanted electronic devices, severe heart disease, recent stroke or major orthopedic problems are excluded.
Locations
- Center of Sport Research, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain
Making Contact: How to Call This Study Site
Who to ask for
Ask for the study coordinator. Some sites call this person the research coordinator. They are the right person for questions about joining a study. If you reach a front desk or a doctor's office scheduler, ask them to connect you with the research team for this study.
What to say
It is fine to read this out loud, word for word:
Hello, my name is ____. I am calling about a Parkinson's study at your site. The study number is NCT07524400. It is the one about "Improve movement with brain stimulation". Could I speak with the study coordinator about taking part?
If you are calling for a family member, use their name and mention that you help with their care.
What they will ask you
- The year of diagnosis
- Current medications and their doses
- Other health conditions
- Any procedures already done, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- How far you are able to travel for study visits
- Whether a care partner can come to visits with you
What to have ready
- A written list of current medications and doses
- Your neurologist's name and phone number
- The diagnosis date. The year is enough.
- A recent visit summary from the neurologist, if you have one
What to ask them
- How many visits are there, and how long does each visit take? The listing already answers this: There are evaluations before and after 5 weeks time. Ask the coordinator to confirm it still applies.
- Is travel, parking, or my time reimbursed?
- Is there a placebo group, and what is my chance of being in it? The listing already answers this: This trial has 4 groups, and 1 is a placebo group. Because assignment is random, you have about a 1 in 4 chance (roughly 25%) of being in the placebo group, assuming the groups are filled equally. Ask the coordinator to confirm the exact assignment ratio.
- Would I need to stop or pause any of my current medications?
- What happens when the study ends? Could I stay on the treatment if it helps?
What to expect
- Expect to wait a few days for a callback. A week is common. Calling or emailing again after that is fine and normal.
- Many callers do not end up joining. Screening out is common and is not a judgment about you or your health.
- Asking questions commits you to nothing. You can stop the process at any point.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying real tDCS and exercise. The trial asks whether pairing exercise with noninvasive brain stimulation can improve motor function and the underlying brain activity that supports movement in Parkinson's. Participants do supervised exercise while receiving either real transcranial direct current stimulation, sham stimulation, or exercise alone; tDCS delivers a low electrical current across the scalp to boost cortical excitability and plasticity, which may enhance motor learning and rehabilitation, and it is given alongside stable antiparkinsonian medications rather than replacing levodopa. About 100 adults with idiopathic Parkinson's diagnosed by UK Brain Bank criteria and on stable meds are sought, while people with significant cognitive impairment, major depression, seizure history, deep brain stimulators or other implanted electronic devices, severe heart disease, recent stroke or major orthopedic problems are excluded.
- Who can participate?
- Eligibility criteria vary. Check the full listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- You are never charged a fee to join a legitimate clinical trial, and the study treatment and study-specific tests are provided by the trial sponsor at no charge. In the US, routine care you would receive anyway can still be billed to you or your insurance; coverage rules differ by country, and trials in the UK and Canada usually run through public health systems. Travel, parking, and time are real costs, and some trials reimburse them while others do not. Before enrolling, ask the study coordinator to explain in writing what is and is not covered.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 3 months.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.
- Will I get a placebo in this trial?
- This trial has 4 groups, and 1 is a placebo group. Because assignment is random, you have about a 1 in 4 chance (roughly 25%) of being in the placebo group, assuming the groups are filled equally. Ask the coordinator to confirm the exact assignment ratio.
- How many visits does this trial involve?
- There are evaluations before and after 5 weeks time.
- What procedures are involved in this trial?
- Based on the protocol, this trial involves: Brain wave recording (EEG) (non-invasive). Confirm the full schedule with the study coordinator.