Efeito da Estimulação Vestibular Galvânica na qualidade de vida e cognição auditiva em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson

Abstract

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is a non-invasive method used to stimulate the vestibular system, including the integrated cortical areas that receive vestibular information. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the impact of GVS regarding auditory cognition, mood and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). METHODOLOGY: This experimental study was a before and after comparison of 31 PD patients submitted to weekly GVS sessions for eight consecutive weeks. The electrodes were placed on the mastoid bones as a dipole. The intensity of current was gradually increased from 1.0 milliampere (mA) to 3.5 mA. The stimulation time was progressively increased from 9 minutes in the 1st session to 30 minutes in the 3rd session and kept it. The patients answered the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) about quality of life and were submitted to P300 to test auditory cognition. RESULTS: The age average was 69 years, 9 years of disease, in average, and 21(67%) patients were men. The GDS screened normal humor before intervention (5 points) that was kept the same after intervention (p=0,121). The quality of life improved in the dimension’s “cognition” (p=0,012) and “communication” (p=0,013) after intervention. P300 latency decreased (p=0.026) and amplitude increased (p=0,001) after intervention. CONCLUSION: GVS activates temporoparietal and prefrontal cortex, areas involved in the vestibular processing and in other cognitive abilities such as planning, communication and decision making. The improvement of P300 and of PDQ-39 parameters related to the activation of the prefrontal cortex indicated that GVS may have led to cognitive improvement of the patients.