The Effects of Ischemic Conditioning in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT06293118

Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein34 enrolled

Overview

Ischemic conditioning (IC) is a promising therapy that can mimic the physiological effects of physical exercise. IC consists of using a cuff to measure blood pressure and calibrate 200 mmHg on the upper or lower limb. Thus, at alternating intervals of 5 minutes, ischemia or reperfusion occurs, depending on whether the cuff is inflated or deflated. IC induces changes in spinal cord excitability for the last reflex reactions of recruited motoneurons with improved balance control in healthy young people and improved learning in the elderly. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the chronic effect of IC on the motor function and cognitive performance of patients with Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, the investigators will evaluate secondary outcomes such as mobility, quality of life, and immunological responses.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. Typically, patients with PD suffer from disabilities and secondary complications even when the disease is optimally treated, and many patients still have sedentary lifestyles, which in turn result in higher rates of mortality and comorbidity. Physical activity is an essential element in maintaining daily functional capabilities and quality of life. However, patients with PD have motor and non-motor deficits that can prevent or limit physical exercise, such as running or resistance exercise. Ischemic conditioning (IC) is a promising therapy that can mimic the physiological effects of physical exercise. IC consists of using a cuff to measure blood pressure, calibrated between 180 and 200 mmHg on the upper or lower limb. Thus, at alternating intervals of 5 minutes, ischemia or reperfusion occurs, depending on whether the cuff is inflated or deflated. IC induces changes in spinal cord excitability for the last reflex reactions of recruited motoneurons with improved balance control in healthy young people and improved learning in the elderly. Recently, IC has been shown to improve cognitive performance in neurological patients with stroke, subcortical ischemia, and vascular dementia. However, there are no studies that have evaluated the effect of IC on motor and cognitive performance in patients with PD. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the chronic effect of IC on the motor and cognitive performance of patients with PD. Furthermore, the investigators intend to evaluate other secondary outcomes such as mobility, quality of life, and immunological responses.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

Ischemic conditioning groupDEVICE

The ischemic conditioning protocol will consist of a period of 12 weeks (24 sessions) with a frequency of 2 weekly sessions lasting between 15 and 20 minutes each. Therapy will be performed bilaterally on the upper limbs. The ischemic conditioning group will perform 4 times, 8 cycles with 30 seconds of ischemia (80 - 200 mmHg) with 5 seconds of reperfusion in each cycle. Ischemia cycles are controlled by a device (KAATSU C3 - KAATSU GLOBAL / USA) with customized ischemia programs, partially restricting blood flow through special pressure cuffs that are internally valved, providing greater comfort and safety for these patients who typically have stiffness in the affected limb and localized muscle pain. In the first cycle, participants will be subjected to pressures of 80 to 150 mmHg. In the 3 subsequent cycles, pressures from 130 to 200 mmHg will be applied.

Sham groupDEVICE

Participants in the control group (Sham) will perform 4 cycles of 5 minutes of ischemia (30 mmHg) with 4 subsequent cycles of reperfusion (rest) bilaterally in the arms with a sphygmomanometer

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 90 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * PD patients aged 40 years or older; * Diagnosis of PD without cognitive complaints or with complaints, but without impact on daily activities; Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy; * Uncontrolled arterial hypertension (BP\>160/100mmHg); * Uncontrolled diabetes (Fasting glucose \> 250mg/dl, peripheral retinopathy or diabetic ketoacidosis); * Uncontrolled dyslipidemia (total chol \> 220mg/dL); * Pre-existing autoimmune diseases; * Infectious conditions for less than 1 month; * Neurological problems that prevent training from being carried out; * History of anemia, cerebral vascular disease, myocardial infarction in the last 6 months; * Previous deep vein thrombosis; * Smoking \< 6 months; * Symptomatic peripheral arterial obstructive disease; * Cognitive dysfunction: Moca \< 24.