Effects of home-based EEG neurofeedback training as a non-pharmacological intervention for Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Neurophysiologie clinique Vol. 54; no. 5; p. 102997
• Main Authors: Cooke, Andrew, Hindle, John, Lawrence, Catherine, Bellomo, Eduardo, Pritchard, Aaron W., MacLeod, Catherine A., Martin-Forbes, Pam, Jones, Sally, Bracewell, Martyn, Linden, David E.J., Mehler, David M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Eeg; Home-based; Intervention; Neurofeedback; Non-pharmacological; Parkinson's disease; Intervention; Non-pharmacological; Parkinson's disease; Home-based; Eeg; Neurofeedback
• ISSN: 0987-7053; 1769-7131; 1769-7131
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2024.102997

Aberrant movement-related cortical activity has been linked to impaired motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopaminergic drug treatment can restore these, but dosages and long-term treatment are limited by adverse side-effects. Effective non-pharmacological treatments could help reduce reliance on drugs. This experiment reports the first study of home-based electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback training as a non-pharmacological candidate treatment for PD. Our primary aim was to test the feasibility of our EEG neurofeedback intervention in a home setting. Sixteen people with PD received six home visits comprising symptomology self-reports, a standardised motor assessment, and a precision handgrip force production task while EEG was recorded (visits 1, 2 and 6); and 3 × 1-hr EEG neurofeedback training sessions to supress the EEG mu rhythm before initiating handgrip movements (visits 3 to 5). Participants successfully learned to self-regulate mu activity, and this appeared to expedite the initiation of precision movements (i.e., time to reach target handgrip force off-medication pre-intervention = 628 ms, off-medication post-intervention = 564 ms). There was no evidence of wider symptomology reduction (e.g., Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III Motor Examination, off-medication pre-intervention = 29.00, off-medication post intervention = 30.07). Interviews indicated that the intervention was well-received. Based on the significant effect of neurofeedback on movement-related cortical activity, positive qualitative reports from participants, and a suggestive benefit to movement initiation, we conclude that home-based neurofeedback for people with PD is a feasible and promising non-pharmacological treatment that warrants further research.