Trial results for a study investigating the combined effects of non-invasive neuromodulation with exercise interventions for individuals with Parkinson's Disease were posted on 2025-12-17, involving 25 participants.

Background

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects motor function, leading to symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Current treatments often focus on symptom management through medication and physical therapy. However, there is ongoing research into complementary approaches, such as neuromodulation, to further improve physical function and quality of life. Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive form of neuromodulation that has shown potential in various neurological conditions, and its combination with established exercise interventions represents an area of interest for enhancing therapeutic outcomes in Parkinson's Disease.

Trial design

This completed study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 25 participants diagnosed with Parkinson Disease. The trial's primary purpose was to evaluate the combined effects of non-invasive neuromodulation, specifically transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS), with exercise interventions. The goal was to improve physical function and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Participants were divided into two groups: one receiving active taVNS combined with exercise, and another receiving sham taVNS combined with exercise.

Key results

The trial measured outcomes using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III, where lower scores indicate better motor function, and the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), where higher distances indicate better physical endurance. Key measurements include:

What this means

The posted results suggest that combining active transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) with exercise interventions may offer benefits for individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Across multiple measurement points, the active taVNS + exercise group consistently showed lower (better) mean scores on the MDS-UPDRS Part III, indicating improved motor function compared to the sham taVNS + exercise group. Similarly, for the Six Minute Walk Test, the active taVNS + exercise group consistently achieved higher mean distances, suggesting enhanced physical endurance. These findings indicate a potential positive impact of this combined intervention on key aspects of physical function in Parkinson's Disease patients, warranting further investigation into its clinical utility.

Source

The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05871151, titled "Combining VNS With PT Interventions for Individuals With PD", were posted on 2025-12-17 on clinicaltrials.gov.