Vestibular Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease
Vestibular Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease
The purpose of this study is to determine whether caloric vestibular stimulation improves
 symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a nationwide public health problem, inflicting a complex
 constellation of physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms which are shown to progress with
 time. This research will investigate the potential of caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS), a
 non-invasive form of brain stimulation, as a treatment for individuals who suffer from
 Parkinson's Disease. Investigators will investigate whether core cognitive and physiological
 deficits are responsive to stimulation by comparing participants' performance on behavioral
 and physiological measures after baseline and either active or placebo stimulation phases
 with the aim of drawing initial insights into the application of CVS within this population.
 The study design is based on a single-case study that recently demonstrated durable,
 clinically meaningful gains in the motor and cognitive symptoms of PD.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (as defined by the UK PDS Brain Bank Criteria) or
 atypical Parkinson's disease (aka Parkinsonism), comprising progressive supranuclear
 palsy, multiple system atropy and cortico-basal degeneration).

 -  limitations to Activities of Daily Life (ADL, UPDRS subscale 2)

 -  Capacity to consent to the study

 -  good level of spoken English

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Diagnosis of induced Parkinson's or essential/dystonic tremor

 -  Premorbid psychiatric history (including affective disorder, psychosis or deliberate
 self- harm)

 -  Previous exposure to neurostimulation

 -  Inner ear pathology