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Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study (PDTMSAPATHY)

Primary Purpose

Parkinson Disease

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Sponsored by
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Parkinson Disease focused on measuring Apathy, Motivation

Eligibility Criteria

55 Years - 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson Disease. At least 5 years of symptoms. On dopaminergic medication for Parkinson Disease. Stable on dopaminergic medication and other medications which may influence apathy (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, stimulant medications) for at least 4 weeks prior to first study visit and remain stable throughout the study period. Hospital's study-specific informed consent must be obtained. Must have capacity to provide informed consent in English. For female participants, confirmation that they have not had a menstrual period in over 12 months, or that they will use an effective form of contraception during the study. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to provide informed consent. Inability to perform effort task (determined during the titration session). Presence of dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score < 21). History of epilepsy or brain surgery. Severe tremor or dyskinesia that would interfere with EEG (determined by the PI). Patients with clinically significant medical or neurological conditions which may be an alternative cause of parkinsonism such as repeated brain injury, anti-dopaminergic medications, anoxic brain injury, or significant basal ganglia strokes. Presence of other known central nervous system disease that may interfere with performance or interpretation of EEG or TMS. Presence of any implanted metal devices including, but not limited to, pacemakers, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, bladder stimulators, or cochlear implants. Presence of medical contraindications to TMS such as implanted stimulators, history of mania or bipolar disorder, history of epilepsy.

Sites / Locations

  • Carolina Center for Neurostimulation at UNC-Chapel Hill

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Experimental

Arm Label

Medial Prefrontal Cortex - Control Site

Control Site - Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Arm Description

Participants first undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex. After a 3-week washout period, participants then undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the control site.

Participants first undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the control site. After a 3-week washout period, participants then undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in goal-directed behavior after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Differences in the degree of change in goal-directed behavior after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Goal-directed behavior will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Change in reward evaluation after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Differences in the degree of change in reward evaluation after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Reward evaluation will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Association between frontal midline theta EEG power and goal-oriented behavior
Degree of association between frontal midline theta EEG power and goal-oriented behavior. Goal-directed behavior will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Association between frontal midline theta EEG power and reward evaluation
Degree of association between frontal midline theta EEG power and reward evaluation. Reward evaluation will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.

Full Information

First Posted
October 11, 2023
Last Updated
October 11, 2023
Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT06087926
Brief Title
Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study
Acronym
PDTMSAPATHY
Official Title
Investigation of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Apathy
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Not yet recruiting
Study Start Date
October 31, 2023 (Anticipated)
Primary Completion Date
June 30, 2027 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
June 30, 2027 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
Yes
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to develop non-invasive brain stimulation targets for the treatment of apathy, or motivation problems, in Parkinson Disease. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Does transcranial magnetic stimulation change effort task performance in Parkinson's Disease patients? Is there a link between brain signals and apathy? Participants will complete questionnaires and assessments perform an effort task have their brain activity recorded (EEG) receive non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS) Researchers will compare two stimulation locations (experimental site and control site) to see if TMS of the experimental site has an effect on apathy. Participants will receive stimulation of both sites (during separate visits).
Detailed Description
Participants will be asked to come for 3 study visits. During visit 1, after being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will undergo a brief cognitive assessment, a movement examination, and answer questionnaires. Visit 1 will take 1-2 hours. Visits 2 and 3 will involve: completing questionnaires, performing a task where fictitious rewards can be earned by squeezing a dynamometer, recording brain activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG), and receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Visits 2 and 3 will take approximately 3-4 hours each and will be separated from each other by at least 3 weeks.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Parkinson Disease
Keywords
Apathy, Motivation

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Masking
Participant
Masking Description
Participant will be blinded as to which site is being stimulated, experimental site or control site.
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
60 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Medial Prefrontal Cortex - Control Site
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Participants first undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex. After a 3-week washout period, participants then undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the control site.
Arm Title
Control Site - Medial Prefrontal Cortex
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Participants first undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the control site. After a 3-week washout period, participants then undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex.
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Other Intervention Name(s)
Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS)
Intervention Description
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (or TMS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation in which a magnetic pulse is applied directly to the scalp. TMS is FDA approved for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders and is regularly used in neurologic and psychiatric research. ITBS is a particular TMS protocol which delivers the magnetic field in triplet bursts (three stimulations very close together at a frequency of 50 Hz). The triplet bursts are repeated at a rate of 5 Hz for 2 seconds (30 pulses), followed by 8 seconds rest, repeated 20 times for a total of 600 pulses. Each treatment lasts approximately 3 minutes.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in goal-directed behavior after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Description
Differences in the degree of change in goal-directed behavior after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Goal-directed behavior will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Time Frame
Immediately before stimulation and 15 minutes after stimulation.
Title
Change in reward evaluation after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Description
Differences in the degree of change in reward evaluation after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Reward evaluation will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Time Frame
Immediately before stimulation and 15 minutes after stimulation.
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Association between frontal midline theta EEG power and goal-oriented behavior
Description
Degree of association between frontal midline theta EEG power and goal-oriented behavior. Goal-directed behavior will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Time Frame
Approximately 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after stimulation.
Title
Association between frontal midline theta EEG power and reward evaluation
Description
Degree of association between frontal midline theta EEG power and reward evaluation. Reward evaluation will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.
Time Frame
Approximately 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after stimulation.
Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures:
Title
Association between frontal midline theta EEG power and subjective apathy
Description
Degree of association between frontal midline theta EEG power and subjective apathy as measured with the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (LARS). The LARS has been validated in Parkinson Disease. It consists of a structured interview that includes 33 items. Responses are scored on a dichotomous scale. The LARS score will be investigated as an effect measure modifier in the association between performance on the S-EEfRT and frontal midline theta power.
Time Frame
Approximately 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after stimulation.

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
55 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
80 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson Disease. At least 5 years of symptoms. On dopaminergic medication for Parkinson Disease. Stable on dopaminergic medication and other medications which may influence apathy (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, stimulant medications) for at least 4 weeks prior to first study visit and remain stable throughout the study period. Hospital's study-specific informed consent must be obtained. Must have capacity to provide informed consent in English. For female participants, confirmation that they have not had a menstrual period in over 12 months, or that they will use an effective form of contraception during the study. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to provide informed consent. Inability to perform effort task (determined during the titration session). Presence of dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score < 21). History of epilepsy or brain surgery. Severe tremor or dyskinesia that would interfere with EEG (determined by the PI). Patients with clinically significant medical or neurological conditions which may be an alternative cause of parkinsonism such as repeated brain injury, anti-dopaminergic medications, anoxic brain injury, or significant basal ganglia strokes. Presence of other known central nervous system disease that may interfere with performance or interpretation of EEG or TMS. Presence of any implanted metal devices including, but not limited to, pacemakers, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, bladder stimulators, or cochlear implants. Presence of medical contraindications to TMS such as implanted stimulators, history of mania or bipolar disorder, history of epilepsy.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Anita Frohlich, LL.M.
Phone
919-843-6880
Email
frohlicha@neurology.unc.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Miriam Sklerov, MD
Phone
984-974-4401
Email
miri@email.unc.edu
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Miriam Sklerov, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Carolina Center for Neurostimulation at UNC-Chapel Hill
City
Chapel Hill
State/Province
North Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
27516
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Yes
IPD Sharing Plan Description
Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.
IPD Sharing Time Frame
Beginning 9 and continuing for 36 months after publication.
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
Data will be made available to investigators who have approval from an IRB, IEC, or REB and an executed data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

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Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study

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