Hypokinetic dysarthria (HD) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and responds only partially to pharmacotherapy and surgery. The investigators will explore long-term effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over right superior temporal gyrus, brain area known to be engaged in the feedback control of voiced speech. The project results will allow for the identification of potential therapeutic effects of rTMS as a tool that could contribute to the speech therapy of HD in PD patients. The results will also enhance our understanding of brain mechanisms underlying specific long-term effects of rTMS.
A two parallel group, randomized, placebo controlled design will be used. Twenty PD patients will be stimulated in a two weeks long therapeutical sessions (10 sessions). Other twenty PD patients will be stimulated with the same protocol using sham stimulation. An MRI protocol consisting of T1, EPI BOLD, and DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) sequences and speech evaluation (acoustic signal processing and 3F test) will be performed prior to and after 10 days of rTMS and then repeated after 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
39
Transcranial magnetic stimulation- sham figure-eight coil will be used for stimulation. This sham coil will generate only clicking noise and will not generate any magnetic field.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation- figure-eight coil will be used for stimulation. 1 Hz stimulation, 100% of Resting Motor Threshold will be used.
Central European Institute of Technology
Brno, Czechia
Changes in score of the 3F Test (the unabbreviated title- "the 3F Test Dysarthric Profile")
The 3F Test Dysarthric Profile enables clinicians to characterize a wide range of signs and symptoms of dysarthria. The minimum value of this scale is 0 (anarthria), the maximum value is 90 (no disorder). Higher scores of this scale mean better outcome. This test will be administrated by speech pathologist.
Time frame: On the beginning of the study, after completion of two weeks stimulation, 4,8 and 12 weeks after completion of stimulation sessions.
Resting state
The effect of stimulation on the resting state networks will be studied using fMRI measurement.
Time frame: On the beginning of the study, after completion of two weeks stimulation, 4,8 and 12 weeks after completion of stimulation sessions.
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