Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dopamine-dependent effect of combining transcranial
direct current stimulation (tDCS) with visually cued gait training on cortical
excitability and functional mobility in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
DESIGN: A pilot, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. METHODS: Twenty-two
patients with Parkinson's disease were randomly assigned to 2 groups: (i) active
anodal tDCS over the supplementary motor area (experimental group), or (ii) sham
tDCS (control group). After tDCS, both groups participated in a visually cued
gait training. Functional mobility was evaluated with the Timed Up and Go test
(TUG). Cortical excitability was assessed by active motor threshold and
motor-evoked potential amplitudes elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation
in patients in on and off medication states. RESULTS: In the TUG test both groups
achieved improvements either in on or off medication condition compared with
baseline. However, for both medication conditions, these gains were maintained
only in the experimental group during 1-month follow-up, compared with baseline.
In the experimental group, enhancement of cortical excitability was observed at
post-intervention and 1-month follow-up (both only for the "on" phase) compared
with baseline. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that tDCS, independent of
dopaminergic medication state, might prolong the positive effect induced by cued
gait training on functional mobility.

Langue : ANGLAIS