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NCT Number: NCT03886090

Facilitating Motor Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease II (FaST-PD II)

The study is designed to assess the effects of cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise on motor skill learning in Parkinson patients. Specifically, the investigators examine whether a single bout of moderate-intense aerobic exercise, performed immediately following motor skill practice, facilitates motor memory consolidation. In this experimental trial, participants will be randomly allocated to either an intervention group (motor skill practice + aerobic exercise) or control group (motor skill practice + seated rest).

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Sport Science and Sport, Gebbertstr. 123b

Erlangen, Bavaria, 91058, Germany

About this study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor control impairments, such as gait disturbances and postural instability. Beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and task-specific motor training (repeated practice of a skill) is consequently considered to be a motor learning process. Importantly, the formation (acquisition) and consolidation of motor memories is impaired in PD compared to healthy individuals of similar age.

Thus, it is crucial to identify strategies to enhance motor learning in people with PD. Recent studies have accumulated evidence to show that acute (single bouts of) cardiovascular exercise can facilitate motor skill learning. However, this evidence is mainly derived from studying healthy individuals. In a first study including PD patients, we recently found improved motor memory consolidation, but not skill acquisition, when practice was preceded by a single bout of cardiovascular exercise.

These results suggest that acute exercise may enhance motor memory formation processes, but could potentially interfere with motor skill acquisition when performed prior to practice. Consequently, the present study investigates whether performing a single bout of cardiovascular exercise immediately following skill practice will enhance motor memory consolidation without affecting skill acquisition in PD.

In an experimental trial, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups will practice balancing on a stability platform (motor learning task). The experimental group will additionally perform a bout of aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer) immediately following motor practice, while the control group will rest. Subsequently, motor skill retention will be tested after 24 hour and seven-days.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Parkinson's disease stage 1-3 on Hoehn & Yahr scale
  • Ability to stand unaided and walk without an assistive device
  • Stable medication during the study period
  • Unfamiliar to the motor learning task

Exclusion criteria

  • On-off and wearing-off phenomena
  • Unstable medical or psychiatric illness
  • Clinically relevant cardiovascular or orthopaedic disease
  • Severe polyneuropathy
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Smoking > 10 cigarettes/day
  • Caffeine > 6 cups of coffee/day
  • Alcohol > 50 g (two glasses)/day

Treatment and study plan

Aerobic Exercise

Behavioral

Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer following motor skill practice

Rest

Behavioral

Seated rest following motor skill practice

Motor learning

Behavioral

Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in a horizontal position.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time in balance

    Time frame: Day 1: performance at end of skill acquisition (last practice block), Day 2: 24-hour retention performance, Day 3: seven-day retention performance

    Motor memory consolidation: Change of time in balance (angular displacement ±5° from horizontal) from skill practice (last block of skill acquisition) to 24-hour and seven-day retention test.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Root mean square error (RMSE)

    Time frame: Day 1: performance at end of skill acquisition (last practice block), Day 2: 24-hour retention performance, Day 3: seven-day retention performance

    Memory consolidation: Change of root mean square error (average angular deviation from horizontal) from skill practice (last block of skill acquisition) to one-day and seven-day retention test.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg

Other

Collaborators

  • Department of Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • German Foundation for Neurology
  • Klinik für Neurologie, Krankenhaus Rummelsberg

Registry information

Official study title

Facilitating Motor Skill Learning by Aerobic Training in Parkinson's Disease II

Acronym: FaST-PD II

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Mar 22, 2019
Registry last updated
Mar 24, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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