Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (5): 1282-1293.doi: 10.12307/2026.032

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of different neuromodulatory stimulation modalities on non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s patients: a network meta-analysis

Leng Xiaoxuan1, Zhao Yuxin1, Liu Xihua2   

  1. 1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China; 2Department of Rehabilitation, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-12-04 Accepted:2025-02-06 Online:2026-02-18 Published:2025-06-27
  • Contact: Liu Xihua, MD, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Department of Rehabilitation, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Leng Xiaoxuan, Master candidate, College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, Shandong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Shandong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project, No. M-2023142 (to LXH); Shandong Province Medical Staff Science and Technology Innovation Program Project, No. SDYWZGKCJH2022024 (to LXH) 

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: It has been confirmed that neuromodulation technology can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with Parkinson’s disease, and there are differences in the efficacy of different neuromodulation stimulation methods. Herein, a network meta-analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of different neuromodulation stimulation modalities in improving non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders and depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease, thereby exploring the optimal neuromodulation stimulation regimen.
METHODS: The Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, WanFang Database, VIP Database, CNKI Database, Web of Science, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and EMbase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on neuromodulation techniques to improve sleep disorders, depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The control group was treated with conventional treatments (drugs, conventional rehabilitation therapy, etc.) or sham stimulation, and the experimental group was supplemented with neuromodulation technology on the basis of the control group. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale and the deviation risk assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 were used for network meta-analysis of the four outcomes (sleep disorders, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and quality of life).
RESULTS: (1) Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials involving six neuromodulation stimulation modalities were included. These modalities were transcranial direct current stimulation, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus, multi-target deep brain stimulation. (2) The results of network meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation [standardized mean difference (SMD)=-2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-4.52 to -0.63, P < 0.05) had the best effect in improving sleep disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease. In terms of improving depressive symptoms, deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus (SMD=-1.00, 95% CI=-1.87 to -0.14, P < 0.05) had the best effect, followed by low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (SMD=-0.91, 95%CI=-1.60 to -0.23, P < 0.05), deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (SMD=-0.82, 95% CI=-1.56 to -0.08, P < 0.05), and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (SMD=-0.75, 95% CI=-0.97 to -0.53, P < 0.05). In terms of improving anxiety symptoms, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (SMD=-0.86, 95% CI=-1.54 to -0.18, P < 0.05) had the best effect. In terms of improving the quality of life, deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus (SMD=-0.79, 95% CI=-1.55 to -0.04, P < 0.05) had the best efficacy, followed by high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (SMD=-0.63, 95% CI=-0.90 to -0.36, P < 0.05) and transcranial direct current stimulation (SMD=-0.50, 95% CI=-0.80 to -0.19, P < 0.05). 
CONCLUSION: Neuromodulation technology has significant efficacy in improving non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Transcranial direct current stimulation has the best efficacy in improving sleep disorders, deep electrical stimulation of the medial cerebral part of the globus pallidus has the best efficacy in improving depressive symptoms, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has the best efficacy in improving anxiety symptoms, and deep electrical stimulation of the globus pallidus has the best efficacy in improving quality of life.

Key words: Parkinson’s disease, neuromodulation techniques, transcranial direct current, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, deep brain stimulation, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety, quality of life, network meta-analysis, engineered tissue construction

CLC Number: