Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42191834›Full record

Trial reportScientific reports2026

Enhancing sleep slow waves with auditory stimulation in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized proof-of-concept trial.

Simon J Schreiner, Jana Horlacher, Sara Fattinger, Bettina Markert, Klavs Renerts, Luzius Brogli, Lydia Kämpf, Maurizio Scandella, Rositsa Poryazova, Philipp O Valko and 9 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04589182 (Assessing the Symptomatic Benefit of Acoustic Slow Wave Enhancement in Parkinson Disease), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04589182 naunknown statusnot on this map

Assessing the Symptomatic Benefit of Acoustic Slow Wave Enhancement in Parkinson Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorChristian BaumannRan2020 to 2022Enrolled12ConditionsParkinson Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Huntington DiseaseArmsMHSL- SleepBand, Sham
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Simon J SchreinerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. simon.schreiner@usz.ch.
Jana HorlacherDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sara FattingerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Bettina MarkertDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Klavs RenertsDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Luzius BrogliDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Lydia KämpfDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Maurizio ScandellaDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Rositsa PoryazovaNeurocenter Oerlikon and Neurology Clinic Hirslanden, Bellevue Medical Group, Zurich, Switzerland.
Philipp O ValkoDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Laura FersterDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Renske SassenburgDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Valeria JaramilloSurrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Giulia Da PoianDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Caroline LustenbergerDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Walter KarlenInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Reto HuberCompetence Center Sleep & Health Zurich (SHZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christian R BaumannDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Angelina MaricDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeep sleep supports restorative functions and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's (PD). Phase-targeted auditory stimulation (PTAS) non-invasively enhances slow waves, the electrophysiological hallmark of deep sleep.

objectivesTo investigate, for the first time, whether PTAS can be successfully applied in PD, using a wearable device at home. SETTING AND

designSingle-center, randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study.

participantsOf 43 screened PD patients, 33 had subjective sleep disturbance and qualified for home screening with the device; of these, eight were excluded due to non‑feasibility of PTAS (procedural difficulties n = 1, worsened insomnia n = 2, limited neurophysiological target engagement n = 5) and two withdrew. Twenty‑three participants with confirmed feasibility were randomized.

interventionThree nights of PTAS compared to sham stimulation using wearable devices at participants' homes. PTAS was applied in ON and OFF windows for the entire night in 14 participants and the first 2.5 h after the first stimulus (part-night) in nine.  Main outcome: Slow-wave enhancement measured by slow-wave activity (SWA).

resultsPTAS increased low-frequency SWA by almost 30% during ON windows, with corresponding increases in slow-wave amplitudes, in 21 analyzed participants (two posthoc excluded). Whole-night PTAS - but not part-night PTAS - showed a trend toward longer wake after sleep onset and lower sleep efficiency. Participants receiving part-night PTAS reported improved subjective daytime sleepiness after the third night. No relevant adverse events occurred. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates successful enhancement of slow waves with PTAS in PD, in participants with confirmed feasibility during screening. Our observation of the potential advantages of part-night PTAS warrants further exploration. Our data encourage longer and larger trials to determine the therapeutic potential of PTAS in PD and other neurodegenerative diseases. TRAIL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04589182 (29/09/2020).

Indexed as

Acoustic StimulationParkinson DiseaseSleep, Slow-WaveAgedCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProof of Concept StudySleepWearable Electronic Devices

Identifiers

PMID42191834
PMCPMC13434656

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.