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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07698236

Temporal Interference Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation for Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonian Syndromes: Effects and Target Exploration

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effects of noninvasive deep brain electrical stimulation using temporal interference principles (Temporal Interference Stimulation, TIS) on both motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes, and to investigate strategies for optimal stimulation target selection. A prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, crossover design will be implemented. Participants will be recruited from outpatient and inpatient departments of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The primary hypothesis is that TIS will significantly improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The primary outcome measure will be the change in the MDS-UPDRS Part III score from baseline to post-stimulation.

This study is expected to provide direct evidence supporting the clinical application and target selection strategies of noninvasive deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

40 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital

Shanghai, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 40 to 80 years, diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease or Parkinsonian syndromes according to the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) diagnostic criteria.
  • Receiving stable doses of levodopa or other dopaminergic medications for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment, with a documented response to levodopa; medication regimen must remain unchanged during the study.
  • Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage ≤ 3 in the "ON" medication state.
  • Normal cognitive function, defined as a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24.
  • Able to maintain and cooperate with Parkinson's disease symptom diaries.
  • Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of other neurological or psychiatric disorders that may interfere with study participation or outcomes.
  • Previous treatment with deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other invasive brain stimulation therapies.
  • Orthopedic or other medical conditions that could affect gait or balance.
  • Contraindications to MRI, such as claustrophobia or other factors making MRI unsuitable.
  • History of taking antipsychotic, antidepressant, or other medications that may affect dopamine levels.
  • Contraindications to electrical stimulation, such as implanted cardiac pacemakers or a history of epilepsy.
  • History of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
  • Severe comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, or hepatic/renal dysfunction.

Treatment and study plan

AB Temporal Interference Stimulation

Device

Participants with PD or PDS receive TIS. Each session lasts 30 minutes for 3 consecutive days. The study uses a crossover design with AB sequence (Active → Sham). Active stimulation: current 1.5-4 mA (patient's maximum tolerated), carrier frequency 2000 Hz, frequency offset 130 Hz; Sham stimulation: current 1.5-4 mA, carrier frequency 2000 Hz, frequency offset 0 Hz.

BA Temporal Interference Stimulation

Device

Participants with PD or PDS receive TIS. Each session lasts 30 minutes for 3 consecutive days. The study uses a crossover design with BA sequence (Sham → Active). Sham stimulation: current 1.5-4 mA, carrier frequency 2000 Hz, frequency offset 0 Hz. Active stimulation: current 1.5-4 mA (patient's maximum tolerated), carrier frequency 2000 Hz, frequency offset 130 Hz;

Primary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of temporal interference stimulation (TIS) on motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The MDS-UPDRS Part III is a rater-administered motor examination used to evaluate the severity of motor impairment in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 132, with lower scores indicating less severe motor symptoms. Changes from baseline after real or sham stimulation will be analyzed and compared between groups.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Secondary motor outcome

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The UMSARS is a rater-administered scale used to assess disease severity in patients with Parkinsonian syndromes, particularly multiple system atrophy. The total score ranges from 0 to 104, with a higher score indicating greater disease severity. The change in UMSARS score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  2. Secondary motor outcome

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Freezing of Gait Questionnaire is used to assess the severity and frequency of freezing of gait in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 24, with a higher score indicating more severe freezing of gait. The change in FOGQ score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  3. Secondary motor outcome

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Berg Balance Scale is a rater-administered scale used to assess balance function and fall risk. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, with a higher score indicating better balance function. The change in Berg Balance Scale score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  4. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale-14（HAMA-14）is a rater-administered scale used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, with a higher score indicating more severe anxiety. The change in HAMA-14 score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  5. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17（HAMD-17）is a rater-administered scale used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with a higher score indicating more severe depression. The change in HAMD-17 score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  6. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Mini-Mental State Examination（MMSE）is a brief cognitive screening scale used to assess global cognitive function. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with a higher score indicating better cognitive function. The change in MMSE score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  7. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Montreal Cognitive Assessment（MoCA）is a brief cognitive screening scale used to assess global cognitive function, particularly mild cognitive impairment. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with a higher score indicating better cognitive function. The change in MoCA score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  8. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale（NMSS）is a rater-administered scale used to assess the severity and frequency of non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 360, with a higher score indicating a greater non-motor symptom burden. The change in NMSS score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  9. Efficacy of TIS on non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic Dysfunction（SCOPA-AUT）is a patient-reported scale used to assess autonomic symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 69, with a higher score indicating more severe autonomic dysfunction. The change in SCOPA-AUT score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  10. Efficacy of TIS on quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 Summary Index（PDQ-39 SI）is a patient-reported scale used to assess health-related quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating poorer quality of life. The change in PDQ-39 SI score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  11. Efficacy of TIS on quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The MDS-UPDRS Part I is used to assess non-motor experiences of daily living in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with a higher score indicating more severe non-motor symptom burden. The change in MDS-UPDRS Part I score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  12. Efficacy of TIS on quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    The MDS-UPDRS Part II is used to assess motor experiences of daily living in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with a higher score indicating greater motor-related impairment in daily living. The change in MDS-UPDRS Part II score from baseline to after stimulation will be compared between the real and sham stimulation groups.

  13. Potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of TIS in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    Changes in resting-state EEG β-band oscillation power before and after stimulation

  14. Potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of TIS in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 days after sham stimulation, and 3 days after active stimulation.

    Changes in whole-brain resting-state fMRI functional connectivity strength, with exploratory analyses focusing on the sensorimotor and basal ganglia networks, before and after stimulation

  15. Incidence of Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)

    Time frame: From baseline through study completion (up to 3 weeks)

    The number and severity of all AEs and SAEs will be collected and monitored throughout the study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ruijin Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Study on the Therapeutic Effects and Target Exploration of Temporal Interference-Based Noninvasive Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients With Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonian Syndromes

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 13, 2026

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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