Combined TMS and transcranial alternating current stimulation induced neuroplasticity in tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE

Tremor is one of the most common motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), with adverse effects on daily functioning and quality of life. This study investigated the effects of concurrent intermittent theta-burst stimulation and gamma frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation (iTBS-γ-tACS) on neuroplasticity in the motor cortex and resting tremor severity in individuals with tremor-dominant PD.

METHODS

Eighteen individuals (mean age 66.8 ± 10.0 years, 6 females) with tremor-dominant PD attended two sessions, one involving iTBS-γ-tACSreal (real iTBS and real tACS), and the other involving iTBS-γ-tACSsham (real iTBS and sham tACS). Measures of neuroplasticity (corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibition) and tremor severity were measured before and after iTBS-γ-tACS.

RESULTS

Corticospinal excitability in the target muscle increased significantly after iTBS-γ-tACSreal, but not iTBS-γ-tACSsham. Intracortical inhibition and tremor severity were not significantly modulated by either stimulation condition.

CONCLUSIONS

iTBS-γ-tACSreal, but not iTBS-γ-tACSsham, elicited long-term potentiation-like neuroplastic changes in the target muscle.

SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to show iTBS-γ-tACS can induce neuroplasticity in individuals with tremor-dominant PD. Despite no significant changes in tremor severity, future research should explore if targeting neuroplasticity in the cortical representation of the tremor-dominant muscle and/or multi-session administrations of iTBS-γ-tACS can reduce tremor.