High frequency transcranial pulsed current stimulation improves quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive multisystem disorder in which motor and non-motor symptoms impair quality-of-life. High-frequency transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) modulates network-level dysfunction and may serve as an adjunct therapy in PD. In a randomized controlled trial, 38 participants with Hoehn & Yahr stage I–III PD were randomized to active 400 Hz tPCS or sham for 4 weeks while receiving stable antiparkinsonian medication. Stimulation targeted bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices and motor-cerebellar circuit. Primary outcome was the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 Summary Index (PDQ-39 SI); secondary outcomes included motor and non-motor measures. Thirty participants completed the study with no serious adverse events. Compared with sham, active tPCS significantly improved PDQ-39 SI (p = 0.017; partial η² = 0.19) and reduced non-motor symptom burden (NMSS, p = 0.005). High frequency tPCS was safe, well tolerated, and improved quality of life in PD, warranting investigation in larger trials. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000041517, Date of registration Dec 27, 2020 (URL https//www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=66622)