Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Walking in Patients With Parkinson Disease

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeted at the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) appears to offer the most benefit for dual-task walking and cortical modulation in patients with Parkinson disease, according to authors of a study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

“The results suggest that one session of DLPFC tDCS can be recommended to improve dual-task walking,” stated researchers.

The study investigated the effects of various tDCS targets on dual-task walking and cortical activity in 36 patients with Parkinson disease and similar baseline data. Patients were randomized to either primary motor cortex (M1) tDCS, DLPFC tDCS, cerebellum tDCS, or sham tDCS treatment. Except for the sham tDCS treatment group, participants received a single, 20-minute session of tDCS stimulation.

Only DLPFC tDCS increased cortical inhibition and, compared with M1 tDCS and sham tDCS, exerted the most beneficial effects for improving dual-task walking, noted researchers. DLPFC tDCS also increased the silent period more than M1 tDCS and sham tDCS.

Participants walked 24% faster under cognitive dual tasking after one session of DLPFC tDCS, according to study findings.

“Further research is needed to explore the effects of multisessions of DLPFC tDCS,” concluded study authors.

Reference:
Wong PL, Yang YR, Huang SF, Fuh JL, Chiang HL, Wang RY. Transcranial direct current stimulation on different targets to modulate cortical activity and dual-task walking in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a double blinded randomized controlled trial. Front Aging Neurosci. Published online February 7, 2022;14(807151). doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.807151