Pathways Mediating Impaired Postural Control in Parkinson's Disease

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age45-80
SponsorUniversity of Minnesota

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

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.

Age 45-80 years (this group will be age and sex-matched to the PD group)

Disqualifiers

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.

Trial population

Participants with PD will undergo an initial screening for inclusion/exclusion criteria by their clinician based on findings obtained during their routine clinical appointment. Potential control participants will be screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria during an initial phone call.

Trial design

Design model

Case-control

Time perspective

Cross-sectional

Treatments tested in this trial

Not listed

Trial groups

160 Participants
are grouped into 2 trial groups
Group A: Control
Group B: Experimental

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

average gate speed

Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion.

Time frame
baseline
2

stride length

Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion.

Time frame
baseline
3

cadence

Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion.

Time frame
baseline
4

turn speed

Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion.

Time frame
baseline

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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