Effects of Land and Water Physiotherapy on Motor Function in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson DiseaseParkinson's disease patients have characteristic postural changes in upper limbs, lower limbs and trunk. The presence of kyphosis is observed as the most common postural deformity. The aim of this study is to verify the effect of dry soil therapy and shallow water therapy on muscle function in individuals with Parkinson's disease? Regarding the benefits, is there a difference between the therapies?
Amped-PD: Amplifying Physical Activity Through Music in Parkinson Disease
Parkinson DiseaseRegular, habitual exercise is a critical component of the long-term management of Parkinson disease (PD). However, PD-specific motor (e.g. slow and diminished movements, variable step timing) and non-motor (e.g. depression, apathy) problems collectively hinder physical activity. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) is a rehabilitation technique that employs coupling of auditory cues with movement. Walking with RAS has been shown to benefit walking rhythmicity, quality, and speed. These walking benefits make RAS advantageous in promoting moderate intensity walking activity -- an important health-objective in the management of PD. However, the therapeutic potential of RAS in self-directed walking programs has not been examined. In this pilot, we will utilize a breakthrough digital therapeutic that delivers music-adaptive RAS to alleviate PD-specific problems by regulating stepping patterns. Using music as a substrate for cue delivery, this digital therapeutic leverages gait benefits from RAS along with enjoyment of music listening, thus making it a viable and engaging modality that will yield habits of regular walking. Habits are automatically recurring psychological dispositions that emerge from repeated behaviors. The investigators posit that music cues provide recurring contextual cues that automatically evoke habitual response of exercise, thus has the potential to prompt regular physical activity. This study will enroll 44 individuals with mild-to-moderate PD. The experimental intervention, "Amped-PD", is a 6-week, user-managed community-based walking program that utilizes music-adaptive RAS that progressively increases walking intensities. This study will examine if Amped-PD (Experimental Intervention) is more effective than a standard-of-care walking program (Active-Control Intervention) in improving physical activity based on moderate intensity walking, and in improving motor deficits related to quality of walking in individuals with mild-to-moderate PD. This study will also examine whether the resultant habits formed from each intervention matter in relation to training-related changes in physical activity.
Rehabilitation of Airway Protection in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson DiseaseDysphagiaAirway protective disorders are a prevalent and progressive consequence of Parkinson's Disease (PD), and often result in aspiration pneumonia which is the leading cause of death in PD. Despite this, a large number of patients with PD do not access specialized services to address these critical deficits. The investigators will examine the comparative effectiveness of a novel treatment paradigm delivered in-person versus via telehealth in persons with PD, as well as the role of patient burden and treatment adherence on outcomes; thus, the proposed research is relevant to public health and in line with NIH's mission to identify novel, efficacious, and accessible rehabilitation strategies for short- and long-term improvement of dysfunctional airway protection in PD.
Pilot Study to Determine if Working Memory Training Aids Cognitive Functioning in Patients With...
Parkinson DiseaseThis project will investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an intensive and focused working memory training program for patients in the early stages of PD receiving dopaminergic therapy. The investigators hypothesize that working memory training will be an effective method of improving working memory and related cognitive and behavioural functions in PD patients.
HIFT in People With Parkinson's Disease
Neurodegenerative DiseasesParkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disease, which presents signs and symptoms both motor (impaired gait, posture, balance, etc.) and cognitive (memory loss, dementia, etc.), all of which cause disability and assuming a high economic cost. Currently, there are already certain authors who have shown how a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocol produces improvements in cognitive and physical performance in healthy adults and in people with multiple sclerosis. However, another modality has been created, such as high-intensity functional training (HIFT), which can benefit different populations, both healthy and pathological, due to the multimodal nature of the exercises. These are prescribed knowing the target group and involve the whole body using universal motor recruitment patterns in multiple planes of movement such as squats. The main hypothesis of the study is that high-intensity functional training (HIFT), at a motor and cognitive level, provides a greater benefit than conventional programs of strength, balance and cognition, on the functionality and cognitive capacity of people with Parkinson's disease.
Efficacy of Cognitive Rehabilitation Using Virtual Reality and Computer-based Cognitive Stimulation...
Parkinson DiseaseHuntington DiseaseMild cognitive impairment associated with movement disorders occurs in up to one third of patients in early stages of the disease, and confers an increased risk of developing dementia. Non-pharmacological interventions to improve cognition have so far been based on computer-based cognitive stimulation and rehabilitation programs. These interventions base their mechanism of action on neuroplasticity and how improvements in cognitive function will generalize to functional improvement. Despite having shown certain indicators of efficacy in previous exploratory studies and clinical trials, cognitive rehabilitation continues to show insufficient evidence and requires further study. To date, there are no previous studies using immersive virtual reality (IVR) to improve cognition. Both IVR and cognitive stimulation are based on the premise that they allow the simulation of ecological environments for rehabilitation than conventional rehabilitation, as well as being more efficient by allowing control of extraneous variables and providing safe spaces for patients. The only PD rehabilitation studies that have been conducted using IVR aimed to improve gait and balance disturbances compared to conventional physiotherapy treatment or non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR). We hypothesize that a cognitive rehabilitation program using IVR or computer-mediated cognitive stimulation could have a greater beneficial effect on the cognitive status of patients with cognitive impairment associated with movement disorders compared to other modalities such as music therapy, delaying the worsening of cognitive functions.
Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transfer on Progression of Parkinson Disease
Parkinson DiseaseThe aim of the study is to assess impact of Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) on clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Assesment of tremor, slowness of movements and balance problems before and after FMT will be performed. The effect of FMT on frequency of constipations, which are common among Parkinson disease patients and have negative impact on quality of life and drug absorption will also be assessed. Detailed assessment of absorption of levodopa, which is the golden standard of treatment of Parkinson disease, is planned. It is planned to recruit 40 patients with diagnosis of Parkinson disease and indications for colonoscopy (constipations, age >50 years). Patients will be randomly assigned to the group receiving treatment with FMT or identically looking placebo. It will be administered to intestine during colonoscopy. Patients will be assessed by neurologist few times after the procedure. Psychological assessment and examination of gait and balance by physiotherapist is also planned. The last assessment will be performed after 12 months to see if the clinical effect can be observed for such a long time. The composition of the intestinal microbiota will be carefully assessed before and after the procedure in order to identify pathogens that may affect the course of the disease.
A Study of Weekly Subcutaneous Injections of SER-214 in Subjects With Parkinson's Disease (PD),...
Parkinson's DiseaseSER-214 is a poly (2-ethyl-2oxazoline)(POZ) polymer conjugate of rotigotine, a potent dopamine agonist that has high affinity for the subclass of dopamine receptors in the brain that mediate dopamine signaling. SER-214 will be administered subcutaneously once a week via a standard 1 mL insulin syringe to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of released rotigotine and POZ-conjugate. Subjects in this study are eligible if they have early, stable or untreated Parkinson's disease and are still experiencing motor fluctuations.
INfusion VErsus STimulation in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's DiseaseBoth Continuous intrajejunal Levodopa Infusion (CLI) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) are accepted therapies for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). To date, no comparative studies have been executed. The INVEST study is an open label randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness as primary outcome. The main clinical outcome is quality of life; secondary outcomes are motor symptoms and neurological impairments, among others.
Efficacy of Psychotherapy for Depressed Parkinson's Disease Patients
DepressionParkinson's DiseaseThe primary aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the acute antidepressant efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) in depressed patients with Parkinson's Disease.