Temporal Interference Stimulation for Parkinson's (NCT07572903)

Reduce tremor and movement stiffness

Trial ID
NCT07572903
Official Title
The Efficacy and Safety of Temporal Interference Stimulation on Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease: A Three-arm, Randomized, Double-blind, Parallel-controlled Study
Goal
Reduce tremor and movement stiffness
Phase
NA
Status
RECRUITING
Sponsor
The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
90 participants
Conditions
Parkinson s Disease
Interventions
Temporal Interference Stimulation
Registry Record Last Updated
2026-07-20 (this month)
Estimated Commitment
Commitment level unclear from the registry data — ask the study coordinator what taking part involves.

Summary For Families

The goal is to find out whether temporal interference stimulation can safely reduce Parkinson's motor symptoms like slowness, stiffness, and tremor by modulating the deep brain networks that control movement. Temporal interference is a noninvasive electrical technique that runs two slightly different high-frequency currents through the scalp so they intersect and produce a low-frequency signal deep in the brain, aiming to alter basal ganglia activity without surgery; the trial is randomized, three-arm, double-blind, and tests stimulation as an add-on while participants keep their Parkinson's medications stable. Adults aged 40 and up who meet standard Parkinson's diagnostic criteria, have measurable motor signs (MDS-UPDRS III ≥ 8) and Hoehn and Yahr stage 1,4, and who have had no medication changes for at least 4 weeks can join; people with DBS or prior cranial surgery, ferromagnetic implants, epilepsy, other major neuropsychiatric disorders, recent trial participation, or pregnancy are excluded.

Eligibility at a Glance

Key requirements found in this trial's official criteria, in plain language. Only what the listing states is shown; the study team makes the final call.

  • Disease stage: Hoehn and Yahr stage 1 to 4
  • Deep brain stimulation: Cannot join after DBS surgery (deep brain stimulation) (criteria text: "severe craniocerebral trauma, cranial surgery or deep brain stimulation treatment")
  • Movement score (MDS-UPDRS): MDS-UPDRS movement score of at least 8 (criteria text: "mds-updrs iii score >= 8 points, hoehn-yahr score 1-4 points")

Do I Likely Qualify? — Self-Check Dimensions

The trial page offers an interactive self-check built from this trial's parsed criteria. It covers these dimensions; anything the criteria don't state clearly is answered "ask the study coordinator", never assumed.

  • This trial enrolls people aged 40 or older.
  • This trial does not enroll people who have had (or are scheduled for) DBS surgery.
  • This trial requires Hoehn and Yahr stage 1 to 4.

Locations

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China

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 NCT07572903. It is the one about "Reduce tremor and movement stiffness". 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?
  • 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 3 groups, and 1 is a sham (a pretend version of the procedure) group. Whether you are placed in the sham group is decided at random. The registry does not tell us how many people go into each group, so ask the coordinator what your chance of being in the sham group would be.
  • 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 Temporal Interference Stimulation. The goal is to find out whether temporal interference stimulation can safely reduce Parkinson's motor symptoms like slowness, stiffness, and tremor by modulating the deep brain networks that control movement. Temporal interference is a noninvasive electrical technique that runs two slightly different high-frequency currents through the scalp so they intersect and produce a low-frequency signal deep in the brain, aiming to alter basal ganglia activity without surgery; the trial is randomized, three-arm, double-blind, and tests stimulation as an add-on while participants keep their Parkinson's medications stable. Adults aged 40 and up who meet standard Parkinson's diagnostic criteria, have measurable motor signs (MDS-UPDRS III ≥ 8) and Hoehn and Yahr stage 1,4, and who have had no medication changes for at least 4 weeks can join; people with DBS or prior cranial surgery, ferromagnetic implants, epilepsy, other major neuropsychiatric disorders, recent trial participation, or pregnancy are excluded.
Who can participate?
Participants must be at least 40 Years.
Where is this trial located?
This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
Does it cost anything to join?
Being asked to pay to join a trial is a red flag: legitimate trials do not charge a participation fee, and the study treatment and study-specific tests are provided by the trial sponsor. What you might still pay depends on where you live: in the US, routine care you would receive anyway can be billed to you or your insurance; 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 2 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 3 groups, and 1 is a sham (a pretend version of the procedure) group. Whether you are placed in the sham group is decided at random. The registry does not tell us how many people go into each group, so ask the coordinator what your chance of being in the sham group would be.

Related Reading

View on ClinicalTrials.gov