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Parkinson DiseaseNCT05268887

High Frequency Light, Sound, and Tactile Stimulation to Improve Motor and Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson's Disease

A study testing GENUS device (Active Settings) in people with Parkinson Disease, run by Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) impacts different types of neural oscillations in the brain, including beta (13-30Hz) and gamma oscillations (30-80Hz), which contributes to PD's cardinal symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and gait instability. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 to 90 years
Conditions the study is for
Parkinson Disease
What is being tested?
GENUS device (Active Settings)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
9 Feb 2022to Nov 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 45 to 90 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Subject has Idiopathic PD defined by the cardinal sign, bradykinesia, plus the presence of at least 1 of the following: resting tremor or rigidity and without any other known or suspected cause of Parkinsonism (according to Movement disorder society (MDS) clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease confirmed by a fellowship trained movements disorder specialist
  • Subject is Hoehn \& Yahr stage 2 to 3
  • Subject has a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) score ≥26.
  • Subject is > 45 and <90 years of age.
  • proficient in speaking, reading, and understanding English
  • capable of providing informed written consent
  • Subject is on a stable dose (at least 1 month prior to baseline visit) of antiparkinsonian agents and willing to remain on this dose for the duration of the study. If on a cholinesterase inhibitor, a stable dose without changes for 1 month is required.
  • Subject has undergone a brain CT or MRI prior to rule out underlying structural lesions

Who cannot join

  • Subject has atypical Parkinson's syndrome(s) due to drugs, metabolic neurogenetic disorders (e.g., Wilson's Disease), encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease, or degenerative disease (e.g., Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Degeneration, Lewy Body dementia)
  • history of any psychiatric illness that would pose a safety risk
  • diagnosis of dementia or other neurological conditions
  • currently taking sedative medications that are clinically contraindicated
  • has undergone recent change (<1 month) in medication
  • recent drug or alcohol abuse or dependence
Show all 15Show fewer
  • laboratory results the would pose safety risk
  • concurrently or has participated in other clinical trial investigation within 3 months
  • pregnant
  • no healthcare
  • history of epilepsy, stroke, or seizure in past 24 months
  • diagnosis of migraines
  • have certain implantable medical devices
  • contraindications for MRI
  • life expectancy of less than 2 years

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Ana Trisini Lipsanopoulos, BS contact

617-258-7723

anat13@mit.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139

    Ana Trisini Lipsanopoulos, BS, 617-258-7723, anat13@mit.edu

    Li-Huei Tsai, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Acute Treatment of Parkinson's Disease With Gamma Frequency Stimulation

Parkinson's disease (PD) impacts different types of neural oscillations in the brain, including beta (13-30Hz) and gamma oscillations (30-80Hz), which contributes to PD's cardinal symptoms of resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and gait instability. The investigators' lab has developed a non-invasive method of increasing gamma power in the brain using Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS) through light, sound, and tactile stimulation devices. For this study, 40 participants with mild Parkinson's disease will be recruited, and the investigators will assess their brain waves with electroencephalogram (EEG) before, during, and after light, sound, and tactile stimulation to determine the safety, feasibility, and optimization of GENUS as a potential therapy in the PD population.

Read the detailed description

It is known that Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have disruptions in brain waves, specifically the beta frequency (13 - 30Hz) and gamma frequency (~30 - 100 Hz), due to the death of dopaminergic neurons in certain parts of the brain. These disruptions of brain rhythms contribute to the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's (resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia or slowness of movement and gait stability) in different ways. The investigators' lab has developed a non-invasive method of neuromodulation called Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation (GENUS), which could be used for patients suffering from motor symptoms due to PD. GENUS is administered via light, sound, and tactile stimulation devices which emit light, audio, and tactile frequencies respectively. GENUS has been tested on cognitively normal individuals and individuals with mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and the device was found to be safe for use and effective for entrainment in both populations.

Investigators hypothesize that boosting gamma oscillations using 40Hz GENUS will augment movement and improve tremor and bradykinesia in PD patients. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine whether gamma entrainment through non-invasive 40Hz sensory stimulation can be observed in patients with PD as measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) during an acute stimulation session. Investigators also hope to determine whether the GENUS devices are safe and easy to use in the PD population.

The investigators will recruit 40 participants diagnosed with mild PD who will be randomly assigned to two study arms: control stimulation and active 40Hz stimulation. Participants will be asked to do a series of movement exercises while wearing an actigraphy watch that tracks their activity before the stimulation session. Cognitive and mental health evaluations and memory tests will also be performed on all participants before and after exposure to the GENUS devices, which can deliver light, sound, and tactile waves at different frequencies. The first GENUS device is composed of a panel with light-emitting diode (LED) illumination and speakers for auditory stimulation, whilst the second device is composed of a small vibrating speaker for tactile stimulation. Each of the two groups will have different combinations of light, sound, and tactile settings.

Being tested
GENUS device (Active Settings), GENUS device (Sham settings)
Keywords
Parkinson's Disease, Motor Impairment, Non-Invasive Sensory Stimulation, Light and Sound Stimulation, Tactile Stimulation, Gamma
Medical subject headings
Parkinson Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • GENUS device (Active Settings)Device

    Also called Gamma Frequency Stimulation, Light and Sound stimulation, Tactile stimulation

    Participants in the active, experimental group will use the GENUS devices configured to active (40Hz) setting for 30-60 minutes

  • GENUS device (Sham settings)Device

    Also called Gamma frequency stimulation, Light and Sound stimulation, Tactile Stimulation

    Participants in the control group will use the GENUS devices configured to the sham settings for 30-60 minutes

Study groups in NCT05268887
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Parkinson's Active ArmExperimentalExposure to active sensory stimulation (40Hz) for 30-60 minutes.
Receives: Device: GENUS device (Active Settings)
Parkinson's Control ArmSham comparatorExposure to control stimulation (sham) for 30-60 minutes.
Receives: Device: GENUS device (Sham settings)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility of gamma frequency stimulation

    Feasibility of gamma frequency stimulation in subjects with mild PD will be assessed by analyzing the EEG data from each subject for a sign of change in gamma frequency waves and determining the percent of subjects who show this change.

    Measured: Immediately after completing the stimulation

  2. Incidence of Stimulation-Related Adverse Events

    Tolerability and safety of gamma frequency stimulation will be assessed by using a questionnaire asking for the subjects' overall experience with the stimulation and denoting any adverse effects.

    Measured: Immediately after the completion of the stimulation

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Mar 2022
  2. Study start9 Feb 2022
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionNov 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05268887
Sponsor's protocol ID
2110000486
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
6 Jan 2022
Last updated
31 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Brown P. Oscillatory nature of human basal ganglia activity: relationship to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2003 Apr;18(4):357-63. doi: 10.1002/mds.10358.

    PubMed 12671940
  • Brown P, Oliviero A, Mazzone P, Insola A, Tonali P, Di Lazzaro V. Dopamine dependency of oscillations between subthalamic nucleus and pallidum in Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci. 2001 Feb 1;21(3):1033-8. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-03-01033.2001.

    PubMed 11157088
  • Deuschl G, Schade-Brittinger C, Krack P, Volkmann J, Schafer H, Botzel K, Daniels C, Deutschlander A, Dillmann U, Eisner W, Gruber D, Hamel W, Herzog J, Hilker R, Klebe S, Kloss M, Koy J, Krause M, Kupsch A, Lorenz D, Lorenzl S, Mehdorn HM, Moringlane JR, Oertel W, Pinsker MO, Reichmann H, Reuss A, Schneider GH, Schnitzler A, Steude U, Sturm V, Timmermann L, Tronnier V, Trottenberg T, Wojtecki L, Wolf E, Poewe W, Voges J; German Parkinson Study Group, Neurostimulation Section. A randomized trial of deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2006 Aug 31;355(9):896-908. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa060281.

    PubMed 16943402
  • Heusinkveld LE, Hacker ML, Turchan M, Davis TL, Charles D. Impact of Tremor on Patients With Early Stage Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol. 2018 Aug 3;9:628. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00628. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 30123178
  • Kogan M, McGuire M, Riley J. Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2019 Apr;30(2):137-146. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2019.01.001.

    PubMed 30898266
  • Litvak V, Eusebio A, Jha A, Oostenveld R, Barnes G, Foltynie T, Limousin P, Zrinzo L, Hariz MI, Friston K, Brown P. Movement-related changes in local and long-range synchronization in Parkinson's disease revealed by simultaneous magnetoencephalography and intracranial recordings. J Neurosci. 2012 Aug 1;32(31):10541-53. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0767-12.2012.

    PubMed 22855804
  • Muthuraman M, Bange M, Koirala N, Ciolac D, Pintea B, Glaser M, Tinkhauser G, Brown P, Deuschl G, Groppa S. Cross-frequency coupling between gamma oscillations and deep brain stimulation frequency in Parkinson's disease. Brain. 2020 Dec 5;143(11):3393-3407. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaa297.

    PubMed 33150359
  • Okun MS. Deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 18;367(16):1529-38. doi: 10.1056/NEJMct1208070. No abstract available.

    PubMed 23075179
  • Okun MS, Fernandez HH, Wu SS, Kirsch-Darrow L, Bowers D, Bova F, Suelter M, Jacobson CE 4th, Wang X, Gordon CW Jr, Zeilman P, Romrell J, Martin P, Ward H, Rodriguez RL, Foote KD. Cognition and mood in Parkinson's disease in subthalamic nucleus versus globus pallidus interna deep brain stimulation: the COMPARE trial. Ann Neurol. 2009 May;65(5):586-95. doi: 10.1002/ana.21596.

    PubMed 19288469

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing GENUS device (Active Settings) in people with Parkinson Disease, run by Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact gamma wave (617-258-7723, gamma.wave@mit.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility of gamma frequency stimulation (time frame: Immediately after completing the stimulation). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05268887, which also lists 9 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Mar 2026.

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