Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Associated With Motor Training for Balance and Functional Mobility in Elderly Patients with Parkinson's Disease Fabrício D. de Almeida, Melina Sales, Shirley Campos, Rodrigo Pedreiro, Ana Carolina Brizzi, Osmar P. Neto

Abstract

 Parkinson's disease PD is considered the second major neurodegenerative disease that affects the elderly population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of transcranial direct current(tDCS)stimulation associated with exercises in subjects with PD using a functional mobility assessment/TUG. Twenty-five subjects aged between 60 and 85 years with PD were assigned to three groups: Intervention Group, Placebo Group and Control Group. Each training session lasted 20 minutes and was performed 5 days a week for 2 weeks. After the 10 training sessions, the intervention group showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the pre and post 10 training sessions were compared. The Intervention group showed a decrease when comparing the means of pre (10.75±3.78) and post (8.25±2.24) time to perform the test compared to the Placebo group and Control. Therefore, the intervention group showed a decrease in the execution time of the TUG test after training associated with tDCS. It is concluded that the brain modulation with tDCS associated with the exercise protocol contributes to the evolution of motor mobility functions in PD patients.