Objective: This is the first study that will assess the potential impact of hypoxia-based therapy in individuals with PD on respiratory parameters and PD symptoms.
Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease, for which currently no disease-modifying therapies exist. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that hypoxia-based therapy might have short- and long-term effects in PD by the resultant adaptive bodily responses. Hypoxia therapy is believed to exert these effects through hypoxic preconditioning, which induces a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-mediated cascade of local hypoxia-mitigating neuroprotective reactions. These might influence the dopaminergic and noradrenergic system on the short-term and the oxidative stress response and mitochondrial dysfunction on the long-term. Therefore, it has been raised as a promising novel basis for therapeutic options in PD.
Method: In 20 individuals with clinical PD, we will investigate the safety, tolerability, short-term symptomatic efficacy of continuous and intermittent hypoxia using individual, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled N-of-1 trials. This design, often deployed in research concerning rare disease, allows for dose finding and for including more individualized outcomes, as each individual serves as its own control. A wide range of exploratory outcomes is deployed, including Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating scale (MDS-UPDRS) part III, Timed Up & Go Test, MiniBES balance test and wrist accelerometry. Additionally, self-reported impression of overall symptoms, motor and non-motor symptoms and urge to take dopaminergic medication will be assessed on a 10-point Likert scale. As a hypothesis-generating addition, cortisol, erythropoietin and platelet-derived growth factor will be measured to explore potentially involved mechanisms. Efficacy will be primarily assessed by Bayesian analysis.
Results: N/A
Conclusion: This application of intermittent and continuous hypoxia therapy could provide insights in novel pathways that may be pursued for PD treatment and explores whether hypoxia-based therapy might serve as personalized therapy in some individuals with PD. This trial may additionally serve as a proof of concept of deploying an N-of-1 design and inclusion of individualized outcomes in PD research.
References: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05214287
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J. Janssen Daalen, M. Meinders, B. Stunnenberg, H. Groenewoud, P. Ainslie, D. Thijssen, B. Bloem. Multiple N-of-1 trials to investigate hypoxia therapy in Parkinson’s disease: TALISMAN study rationale and protocol [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/multiple-n-of-1-trials-to-investigate-hypoxia-therapy-in-parkinsons-disease-talisman-study-rationale-and-protocol/. Accessed September 7, 2024.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/multiple-n-of-1-trials-to-investigate-hypoxia-therapy-in-parkinsons-disease-talisman-study-rationale-and-protocol/