Ear stimulation device offers new hope for Parkinson's tremors
NCT ID NCT07400731
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a device called EarStim that gently stimulates the ear to temporarily improve movement problems in people with Parkinson's disease. About 90 adults with moderate to severe Parkinson's who experience 'off' episodes will try the device in a clinic and later at home for 90 days. The goal is to see if it safely reduces symptoms like stiffness and tremors.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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44 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Patients fulfilling the following criteria are eligible for participation: * Subject must be ≥44 years of age. * Subject has PD and is on stable carbidopa/levodopa therapy for at least four weeks prior to enrollment in the study. * Subject must be willing and able to refrain from changing PD medications or dosages during the 90-day study. * Subject reports experiencing both "ON" and "OFF" episodes (MDS-UPDRS Part IV - Time Spent in the OFF-state score ≥1), as assessed and determined by the investigator. \*This corresponds to item 4.3 in MDS-UPDRS Part IV, where a score of 0 (zero) indicates that the subject experiences no OFF periods during the waking day, and a score of ≥1 reflects the presence of OFF periods at any level. * Subject experiences "OFF" periods with an "ON" score that is ≥20% better than the "OFF" score, as measured by the MDS-UPDRS Part III score, 1 hour after taking their dose of carbidopa/levodopa. * Subject has an MDS-UPDRS Part III score ≥33 in "OFF" period. * Subject agrees to remain in an "OFF" period for up to 3 hours without requiring rescue medication. * Subject can walk independently, without the use of an assisted device (e.g., cane or walker), in both "ON" and "OFF" periods. * Subject is willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study. * Subject is willing and able to comply with all study procedures and required availability for study visits. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who meet any of the following criteria are to be excluded from participation: * Subject has a medical or psychiatric comorbidity that may compromise participation in the study. * Subject has a history of cardiac rhythm disorders (e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or atrioventricular block). * Subject is pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study. * Subject has a form of Parkinsonism other than PD, such as drug-induced Parkinsonism or Multiple System Atrophy. * Subject is currently using on-demand medications for PD, such as subcutaneous apomorphine, sublingual apomorphine, and levodopa inhalation powder. * Subject has an implanted deep brain stimulator (DBS). * Subject is receiving direct intestinal infusions of levodopa. * Subject has a history of epilepsy. * Subject's medications are expected to change during the 90-day study period. * Subject has a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, bladder stimulator, spinal cord stimulator, or any other active electronic medical device. * Subject is unable to understand or follow the instructions required by the study. * Subject has an ear infection or skin condition around the ear. * Subject is participating, or has participated, in another interventional clinical trial in the last 30 days that may confound the results of this study, unless approved by the Sponsor. * Subject has a history of brain surgery or peripheral neuropathy. * Subject is actively using TENS or has a history of chronic TENS use within the last 2 weeks prior to study enrollment. * Subject consumed alcohol or caffeine within 12 hours of study enrollment or has a history of alcohol dependence
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Koc University Hospital
RECRUITINGIstanbul, 34010, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGIstanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a common toxin calm Parkinson's shaking hands?
- Can a home exercise plan steady balance in parkinson disease?
- Turkish Parkinson's dementia test put under the microscope
- Can a Two-Drug combo quiet the tremors Parkinson's patients still feel?
- Brain signals from daily life may sharpen Parkinson's stimulation
- Brain surgery for Parkinson's: can we foresee the confusion that follows?