NESCIO-PD

Research project

NESCIO-PD is a monocenter pilot cross-over trial to assess the acceptability and feasibility of non-invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The study is funded by ZonMw and is performed at Amsterdam UMC.

Currently, there is no evidence-based treatment for mild cognitive impairment in PD, while it has a large burden on quality of life and is a predictor of the later development of dementia. Non-invasive brain stimulation, i.e., repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), are interventions that can positively affect communication in disrupted brain circuitry and thereby treat symptoms of brain diseases and disorders. Their efficacy in relieving cognitive impairment is, however, still uncertain. Moreover, both interventions require frequent treatment sessions and may therefore be burdensome.

In this pilot study, our primary aim is therefore to assess the acceptability and feasibility of rTMS and tDCS in this population, and use the results of current study to optimize treatment protocols. As a secondary aim, we intend to make efficacy estimates of the effect of non-invasive brain stimulation on cognitive function. We will enroll twenty individuals with mild cognitive impairment in PD, that will undergo two four-week interventions of rTMS and tDCS in a cross-over design.

This study is a collaboration between the department of Psychiatry, Rehabilitation Medicine, Neurology and Medical Psychology of Amsterdam UMC.