Pathways Mediating Impaired Postural Control in Parkinson's Disease
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 45 Years to 80 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
This study uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which uses magnets to stimulate the brain, to study nerve signals that control leg and trunk muscles. It looks at how these signals relate to balance and walking problems in Parkinson's disease. It includes adults with Parkinson's disease or dystonia, a condition that causes unwanted muscle tightening, and healthy adults.
The purpose of this project is to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore the state of excitability of corticocortical and corticofugal (cortex to spinal cord, cortex to brainstem to spinal cord) pathways that project to muscles that control the legs and trunk in people with Parkinson's disease. The outcome variables will be further analyzed to understand their relationship to quantitative measures of postural instability and gait dysfunction. As such, the project can be classified as basic physiologic research. The protocol is not designed to determine if measures of corticocortical or corticofugal excitability can be used as a biomarker to predict disease progression.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- For the Parkinson's group: age 45–80, with Parkinson's disease of unknown cause or dystonia diagnosed by a movement disorder specialist using set guidelines.
- For the Parkinson's group: able to walk 50 meters on your own without a cane or other walking aid.
- For the healthy older adult group: age 45–80 and able to walk on your own without a cane or walker.
- For the healthy young adult group: age 21–44 and able to walk on your own without a cane or walker.
Who can't join
- Frequent fainting caused by seeing blood, emotional stress, or things you sense.
- Taking blood-thinning medicines, or being pregnant.
- Muscle, bone, or joint problems that affect standing.
- A history of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or brain injury; dementia; or another major nerve or brain disorder that could affect taking part.
- Metal or magnetic devices inside the skull, a pacemaker, or any implanted device, including a deep brain stimulator.
- Past surgery on blood vessels, the brain, or the heart, including brain surgery to treat Parkinson's disease.
- Unexplained headaches that keep coming back, or a concussion within the past six months.
- Moderate to severe hearing loss.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Participants with Parkinson's disease * Diagnosis of idiopathic PD or dystonia as determined by a movement disorders neurologist in accordance with the UK Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria. * Age 45-80 years. * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (e.g. cane) for 50 meters. Healthy Older Adults (Control participants) * Age 45-80 years (this group will be age and sex-matched to the PD group) * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (cane or walker) Healthy Young Adults * Age 21-44 years (this group will be age and sex-matched to the PD group) * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (cane or walker) Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who describe a history of a frequent vasovagal syncope (fainting) in response to blood, emotional stress, or sensory triggers. * Subjects who are on anti-coagulant medications. * Any musculoskeletal disorder that affects the ability to stand. * History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury. * Intracranial metallic or magnetic devices. * Pacemaker or any implanted device. * History of surgery on blood vessels, brain or heart. * Unexplained, recurring headaches or concussion within the last six months. * Moderate to severe hearing impairment. * Subjects who are pregnant. * Dementia diagnosis * Other significant neurological disorders that may affect participation or performance in the study * Implanted deep brain stimulator or other neurosurgeries to treat PD.
Study sites (1)
MN
- University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, MN 55455More trials in Minneapolis