Parkinson's disease clinical trials — recruiting now

Gait initiation (GI) difficulty is a common problem in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), often linked to impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APA). Currently, there are no targeted rehabilitation programs designed specifically for GI-related APA in PD patients. Research has shown that while motor learning deficits are common in PD, explicit learning is better preserved than implicit learning. Therefore, a GI-related APA training system using an explicit learning model could be particularly effective for this population. During motor learning, long-term potentiation (LTP) increases the excitability of the primary motor cortex. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been demonstrated to induce LTP-like changes in the motor cortex, making it a potential priming method to enhance motor learning. However, the priming effect of PAS targeted at leg muscles and the motor cortex on motor learning related to GI-APA has not been previously studied. The objectives of this study are: 1. To investigate the effects of explicit and implicit training on GI-related APA. 2. To evaluate the priming effect of PAS on GI-related APA training and the associated plasticity changes in the motor cortex.

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly experience a range of both motor (e.g., bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and postural instability) and non-motor (e.g., fatigue, psychiatric and behavioural disturbances, autonomic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, sleep dysfunction and olfactory loss) features. Currently, it is challenging to alleviate these symptoms with first-line treatment, the medications such as levodopa. The CUE1 is a non-invasive device, which is approved for sale in the UK market as a Class I low risk device. It is worn on the sternum or other part of the body such as the forearm and attaches to the skin via an adhesive patch which has been dermatologically tested and approved. The CUE1 delivers pulsing cueing and vibrotactile stimulation to help improve symptoms in people with PD and it has shown to be effective in doing so in previous small case studies. This 9-week feasibility study aims to investigate the feasibility, safety, tolerability and effect of using the CUE1 as an intervention to improve motor and non-motor symptoms in people with PD and related movement disorders. People with clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PD and related disorders including those with progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal degeneration, orthostatic tremor and vascular Parkinsonism as well as atypical dystonias and tremor disorders aged over 18 years old who have the capacity to provide a written consent form to take part in the study, will receive as intervention to wear the CUE1 device at home, on daily basis while carrying out their activities of daily living. Participants will also have to attend face-to-face appointments of approximately half a day, to discuss how they are getting on with using the CUE1 and complete questionnaires on their symptoms, walking, balance, and movement tests as well as a participant's clinical diary.

The goal of this project is to develop the international validation of two new rating scales, the Neuropsychiatric Fluctuations Scale (NFS) and the Shame in PARKinson's disease (SPARK) Scale, in order to improve the understanding of the extent and severity of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD).

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a specialized multi-modal intervention in patients with moderate to advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The hypothesis is that a specialized motor- and cognitive exercise program in addition to usual care can improve gait and balance better than usual care alone. 48 patients with PD and a symptom duration of 4 or more years will be randomized 1:1 to either a control arm or to an intervention arm. The control arm will have usual management of their PD. The intervention arm will receive exercises aimed at both motor and cognitive impairments of PD over the course of 12 weeks. The study has been designed in partnership with the Copenhagen Trial Unit (CTU), Copenhagen Univeristy Hospital, to ensure both internal and external validity. To increase reproducibility, detailed protocols for all training modalities will be shared along with the study results. This study is a feasibility study with the intention of a following international multi-center study to corroborate the results. Both feasibility outcomes for the intervention itself and clinical outcomes for the participants will be published.

The aim of the present project is to document the relationship between the behavioral deficits and the electrophysiological anomalies observed in PD patients in tasks involving motor adaptation to visual or mechanical perturbations.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating illness that has a growing impact on Veterans. One of the most disabling symptoms is depression, which is common in PD and linked to poor quality of life and higher risk of suicide. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective treatments for depression in PD. Ketamine, which has rapid and potent antidepressant effects, is a potential option but has not been tested in Veterans with PD. Studies in rodents show that ketamine may not only improve depression in PD, it may target two of the underlying drivers of the disease: (1) reduced neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to adapt and remodel itself; and (2) elevated inflammation. The investigators are conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled study to examine if a dose of intravenous (IV) ketamine improves depression in Veterans with PD. The investigators will also examine ketamine's effects on neuroplasticity and inflammation, which will help us understand how ketamine works in PD and if it can be a useful treatment for Veterans with the disease. This study will lay groundwork for a larger clinical trial across multiple VA sites.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a severely disabling gait disorder in Parkinson's disease (PD). Its poor response to current therapies reflects the shortfall in current knowledge on its exact pathophysiology. Case series suggest a therapeutic promise of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for FOG, but double-blind randomised controlled trials with reliable FOG assessments are lacking. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial aims to define the outcome, safety, optimal stimulation paradigm and underlying mechanism of SCS for FOG in PD, by exploring both clinical and neurophysiological parameters. Twenty-nine PD patients with refractory FOG will receive an implanted SCS lead connected to an external trial stimulator. During a 3-week trial, 3 stimulation paradigms will be tested in random order, including one sham paradigm. SCS outcome on FOG will be evaluated through wearable accelerometers, self-reported questionnaires and a FOG-provoking protocol at home. Spinal electrophysiological recordings will compare neural properties between PD patients with and without FOG and evaluate intra-patient differences (e.g., on/off medication, DBS states). In patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) including BrainSense technology, the effect of SCS on pathological beta oscillations in the STN will be explored. A subsequent long-term open-label phase will be conducted in those patients who desire a definitive implanted stimulator. This project will provide new insights into the pathophysiology of FOG, pave the way for SCS implementation in clinical practice and enhance future patient selection.

The purpose of this registry is to compile characteristics of world-wide outcomes for the use of Boston Scientific's commercially available Vercise DBS System in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The utilization of Image Guided Programming (IGP), and other commercially available programming features, used as planning tools for the programming of patients with Boston Scientific's Vercise DBS System are also evaluated. Additionally, the utilization of the DBS Illumina 3D feature that may be used for the programming of patients with Boston Scientific's Vercise DBS Systems is also evaluated.

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute is performing this research to accelerate diverse disease research using cells from the body (such as skin or blood cells) to make stem cells and other types of cells, conduct research on the samples, perform genetic testing, and store the samples for future use. Through this research, researchers hope to identify future treatments or even cures for the major diseases of our time.

A prospective and retrospective cohort study of about five years will be performed on blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples taken for diagnostic reasons from recruited patients within the Neuromed Neurology Unit. Subjects with other chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), and healthy subjects subjected to blood sampling and / or lumbar puncture for clinical reasons will be recruited As control groups.

Freezing of gait (FOG) stands out as a devastating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD), where patients may become momentarily glued to the ground, rendering them incapable of walking efficiently. The pathogenesis of FOG remains uncertain but is likely attributed to functional perturbations in superficial cortical and deep locomotion regions. FOG tends to manifest more prominently during complex walking, such as turning, than during simple straight forward walking, and the reasons for this phenomenon remain unclear. Unfortunately, effective methods for overcoming this ambulatory issue has yet to be identified, and quantifying paroxysmal gait spells proves challenging with clinical rating alone; thus, a scientific tool is warranted. In this 3-year proposal, the investigators plan to address these challenges comprehensively.

This trial aims to test whether one year of Varenicline, when compared to placebo, can reduce fall risk and show improvement in the ability to multitask while walking. Participants that are eligible after screening for the study will be randomized to receive Varenicline or placebo. Along with the study medication participants will have visits (over the phone and in person), various tests and imaging, questionnaires, and laboratory collections.

Development of a central repository for PD-related genomic data for future research.

This project will explore the involvement of the serotonin system in the pathophysiology of PD-related central pain. Thus, the serotonin system will be evaluated in PD patients with and without central pain who will benefit from brain positron emission tomography (PET) allowing in vivo imaging of 5HT1A receptors and multimodal brain MRI including morphometric imaging and functional connectivity (resting state acquisition).

The study aims to evaluate the burden of tau pathology in people with Sporadic and LRRK2 PD via in vivo imaging using the tau tracer, \[18F\]PI-2620, and a high resolution PET camera, NeuroEXPLORER.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BBM-P002 for stereotactic injection to treat participants with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) during the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) observation period.

The goal of this study is to use ultra-high-resolution (UHR) PET imaging to better understand how the brain and spinal cord change in healthy aging and in neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and psychotic disorders. Researchers will use the NeuroExplorer PET/CT system, a new scanner that can show very small structures in the brain and spinal cord in much more detail than regular PET. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How do small but important brain regions (like the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, and thalamic nuclei) change in healthy aging? * What early brain changes occur in neurodegenerative and psychotic disorders, and can they help improve early diagnosis? Participants will: * Undergo PET and MRI brain scans using different tracers that measure brain metabolism (18F-FDG), synaptic density (¹⁸F-SynVesT-1), dopamine transporters (¹⁸F-PE2I), and tau protein buildup (¹⁸F-MK6240). * Complete cognitive and clinical assessments related to memory, mood, and motor or psychiatric symptoms, depending on their group. This study will include healthy volunteers and patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer´s disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease and related disorders, or psychotic disorders. The results will help create detailed brain imaging maps for healthy aging and identify early biomarkers for different diseases to support better diagnosis and treatment in the future.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility if a remotely administered smartphone app can increase the volume and intensity of physical activity in daily life in patients with isolated Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder over a long period of time (24 months). Participants will be tasked to achieve an incremental increase of daily steps (volume) and amount of minutes exercised at a certain heart rate (intensity) with respect to their own baseline level. Motivation with regards to physical activity will entirely be communicated through the study specific Slow Speed smartphone app. Primary outcomes will be compliance expressed as longitudinal change in digital measures of physical activity (step count) measured using a Fitbit smartwatch. Exploratory outcomes entail retention rate, completeness of remote digital biomarker assessments, digital prodromal motor and non-motor features of PD, blood biomarkers and brain imaging markers. Using these biomarkers, we aim to develop a composite score (prodromal load score) to estimate the total prodromal load. An international exercise study with fellow researchers in the United States and United Kingdom are currently in preparation (Slow-SPEED). Our intention is to analyse overlapping outcomes combined where possible through a meta-analysis plan, to obtain insight on (determinants of) heterogeneity in compliance and possible efficacy across subgroups

The main objective of this clinical study is to measure the effect of rhythmic auditory cueing, introduced in rehabilitation with three weekly sessions over a period of 7 weeks, on the frequency of rolling in idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients using pharyngography (swallowing radiography). The primary question of this study is: Does the rhythmic cueing introduced in rehabilitation significantly reduce the frequency of rolling in dysphagic Parkinson's patients? The researchers will assess the various stages of swallowing before, after, and 3 months after the rehabilitation protocol, focusing on the oral phase to determine if rhythmic auditory cueing reduces the frequency of rolling. Participants will be required to: * Perform three complete assessments (clinical speech therapy examination + pharyngography) before the protocol, after the protocol, and 3 months post-protocol. * Attend three times per week for 7 weeks at the La Musse hospital to participate in the protocol sessions under the supervision of a speech therapist.

The purpose of this study is to find out whether a type of gentle nerve stimulation, called transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS), can help improve how the body regulates heart rate and blood pressure in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Problems with heart rate and blood pressure control are common and can make it harder for people to exercise or do daily activities. By using this non-invasive form of nerve stimulation and testing how it affects the body's natural responses, this study hopes to learn if taVNS could be a helpful tool to support physical therapy and improve overall function.