Active clinical trials for "Parkinson Disease"

Studies suggest an association between retinal abnormalities and NCD (Neuro Cognitive Disorders) whether they are linked to proven or prodromal Alzheimer's disease (aMCI : amnestic mild cognitive impairment), or to other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia or Lewy body diseases. These retinal anomalies objectified by OCT-A (Optical coherence tomography angiography) and adaptive optics (AO) appear different depending on the pathologies and could therefore serve as markers in vivo of the pathophysiological processes underlying NCD. No study to date has studied the retina and its vessels in NCD using adaptive optics. In this pilot study, we are proposing a combination of two new ophthalmological imaging techniques (OCT-A and AO), which allow rapid in vivo analysis in a completely non-invasive way of the morphology of small vessels as well as architecture of the retina to better specify the retinal anomalies associated with NCD. We will compare the parameters in OCT-A and AO between patients with NCD and controls without NCD (with memory complaint or without) and will seek to determine if there are different profiles according to the causes of NCD.

This is an exploratory pilot study to identify neural correlates of specific motor signs in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dystonia, using a novel totally implanted neural interface that senses brain activity as well as delivering therapeutic stimulation. Parkinson's disease and isolated dystonia patients will be implanted unilaterally or bilaterally with a totally internalized bidirectional neural interface, Medtronic Summit RC+S. This study includes three populations: ten PD patients undergoing deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus (STN), ten PD patients with a globus pallidus (GPi) target and five dystonia patients. All groups will test a variety of strategies for feedback-controlled deep brain stimulation, and all patients will undergo a blinded, small pilot clinical trial of closed-loop stimulation for thirty days.

The purpose of this study is conduct a pilot open trial of a web-based cognitive bias modification intervention to reduce anxiety symptoms in persons with Huntington's disease and persons with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a relentlessly progressing rare neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. The differential diagnosis between the MSA-Parkinsonism (MSA-P) subtype and PD can be very challenging in early disease stages, while early diagnostic certitude is important for the patient because of the diverging prognosis. At the time being, there exists no validated objective biomarker to guide the clinician. Dysarthria is a common early symptom in both diseases and of different origin. The ambition and the originality of this project are to develop a digital voice-based tool for objective discrimination between PD and MSA-P.

This study will evaluate gait when individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) are walking and how walking changes when challenged to perform a functional cognitive task simultaneously. By looking at walking alone and walking with varying cognitive loads the investigators will be able to determine motor and cognitive factors vulnerable to interference in PD. Each is important to understand so that training can address components of walking that become impaired when someone is distracted by a common cognitive task and so that the intensity of treatment matches the level of task difficulty. Using this initial data, the investigators will establish a protocol to improve walking taking into account the unique features of PD, including bradykinesia, freezing of gait, stiffness, and problems with memory and attention. The investigators will evaluate the potential for this treatment to improve walking and improve or maintain cognitive abilities necessary to multitask.

The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of non-regular temporal patterns of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on motor symptoms and neural activity in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET) or multiple sclerosis (MS). These data will guide the design of novel stimulation patterns that may lead to more effective and reliable treatment with DBS. These data will also enable evaluation of current hypotheses on the mechanisms of action of DBS. Improving our understanding of the mechanisms of action of DBS may lead to full development of DBS as a treatment for Parkinson's disease and may lead to future applications of DBS.

This study compares the effectiveness of two different approaches to advance care planning among older African Americans and older Whites living in the community. The two approaches are a structured approach with an advance care planning conversation led by a trained person using Respecting Choices (First Steps) and a patient-driven approach which includes a Five Wishes advance care planning form written in plain language. The study will determine which approach is more effective at increasing advance care planning within each racial group and reducing differences between the two groups in advance care planning.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, with no disease-modifying treatment available, therapy is therefore only symptomatic. The pathophysiology of the disease is still unclear, but inflammatory mechanisms are reported to play a prominent role. An involvement of peripheral adaptive immunity, with an imbalance in T cell subpopulations and in the expression of transcriptional factors (TF) in Cluster of Differentiation (CD) 4 positive T cells has been reported. An initial aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the gut with subsequent propagation along the vagus nerve to the brain has also been hypothesised. Interestingly, in an α-syn overexpressing murine model, the absence of gut microbiota prevented both microglia activation and motor impairment, pointing to a fundamental role of the microbiota in the development of PD. It has been shown that in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of PD patients, probiotics modulate the in vitro production of cytokines toward an anti-inflammatory profile. The investigators developed a clinical trial protocol for the evaluation of probiotics' effects on the peripheral immune system profile in Parkinson's Disease patients. ROS, Lymphocyte subpopulations, TF levels in PBMC will be assessed at baseline and after treatment with a mixture of probiotics in PD patients to assess immunomodulatory effects of said treatment. Motor and non-motor symptoms of PD will also be monitored through the trial period.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms and usually affects people aged 50 years or above. Many studies showed eye movement deficits and visual changes in patients with PD. Previous studies have also indicated that clinical eye movement training could enhance the functional performance of patients with various eye movement problems resulting from ocular and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we will investigate the effectiveness of eye movement training on dynamic vision and functional performance in PD patients with oculomotor deficits.

This is a 6-week exploratory clinical study, designed to test whether treatment with peroneal electrical trans-cutaneous stimulation can have a beneficial effects on symptoms associated with Parkinson's diseases and essential tremor.