Transcranial direct current stimulation for treatment of freezing of gait: a cross-over study.
OBJECTIVE
Progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently characterized by the occurrence of freezing of gait (FOG) representing a disabling motor complication. We aim to investigate safety and efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex of PD patients with FOG.


METHODS
In this cross-over, double-blind, sham-controlled study, 10 PD patients with FOG persisting in "on" state underwent anodal and sham direct current stimulation for 5 consecutive days. Clinical assessment over a 1-month period was performed.


RESULTS
A significant improvement of gait, as assessed by the Stand Walk Sit test, with reduction in number and duration of FOG episodes, along with a significant reduction in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale score, were observed after anodal stimulation. Beneficial effects were more evident after the entire 5-day stimulation session, and persisted until the end of the observation period.


CONCLUSIONS
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex is safe and has therapeutic potential in PD patients with FOG.
Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNeC), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
Francesca
F
Valentino
Giuseppe
G
Cosentino
Filippo
F
Brighina
Nicolò Gabriele
NG
Pozzi
Giorgio
G
Sandrini
Brigida
B
Fierro
Giovanni
G
Savettieri
Marco
M
D'Amelio
Claudio
C
Pacchetti
D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000502:physiology; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
Parkinson's disease; basal ganglia; brain stimulation; gait disorders; motor cortex