• Andrew Cooke
  • Catherine MacLeod
  • Aaron Pritchard
    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
  • Eduardo Bellomo
  • Catherine Lawrence
  • Pamela Martin-Forbes
  • Robert Bracewell
  • David Linden
    Maastricht University, Netherlands
  • David Mehler
    School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University
  • Sally Jones
    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
  • John Hindle
    College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, 9 TR10 9EZ, UK.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with suboptimal movement-related cortical activity and impaired motor function. Pharmacological treatment (e.g., levodopa) can improve movement-related cortical activity and function, but adverse side-effects are common. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of neurofeedback (brain) training as a non-pharmacological way of modifying movement-related cortical activity and improving motor function in PD. Fifteen people with PD (Mage = 67.31 years) completed pre-tests “on” and then “off” medication, three one-hour neurofeedback training sessions, and then a post-test “off” medication. The pre- and post-test sessions comprised a precision handgrip force production task, the Unified PD Rating Scale motor examination, and a quality of life questionnaire. In the neurofeedback sessions we used sensors on the scalp and an auditory tone to record and feedback cortical activity in real-time. The tone was silenced each time participants increased movement-related cortical activity, thereby training them to volitionally produce the activity normally attributed to medication. All sessions occurred in participant homes. Results endorsed the feasibility of the training. Participants completed the trial, with 87% stating that they would recommend neurofeedback to others. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that neurofeedback had a beneficial effect on the time taken to produce target forces during our force production task. Post-hoc comparisons confirmed that the effects of neurofeedback were greater than the effects of medication. There were no effects of neurofeedback on self-reported quality of life or the UPDRS motor examination. It is possible that our neurofeedback protocol benefits movement planning and initiation of voluntary movements, but does not influence during movement control. Future research should include sham-control groups to further interrogate the effects of neurofeedback training, and disentangle genuine effects from those elicited by familiarization or placebo.
Iaith wreiddiolSaesneg
StatwsCyhoeddwyd - 25 Mai 2019
DigwyddiadInternational Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics - European Region Congress - Gothenburg, Sweden
Hyd: 23 Mai 201925 Mai 2019
https://iagger2019.se/

Cynhadledd

CynhadleddInternational Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics - European Region Congress
Teitl crynoIAGG-ER
Gwlad/TiriogaethSweden
DinasGothenburg,
Cyfnod23/05/1925/05/19
Cyfeiriad rhyngrwyd
Gweld graff cysylltiadau