Bilateral intermittent theta-burst stimulation as a priming strategy to enhance action observation and imitation training in early parkinson's disease: a proof-of-concept study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Action observation and imitation training (AOIT) is an evidence-based cognitive-motor rehabilitation strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly for the postural instability and gait disorder (PIGD) subtype. However, its effectiveness may decline with disease-related impairments in neuroplasticity. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a patterned repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol, can induce LTP-like plasticity and may enhance responsiveness to rehabilitation. This study investigated whether iTBS priming augments AOIT effects on gait and cognition in early-stage PIGD and explored underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.

Methods

Fifteen patients with early-stage PIGD participated in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled cr

SUBMITTER: Shi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12639703 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature