Active clinical trials for "Parkinson Disease"

This study will assess the effectiveness of solifenacin succinate (VESIcare) in reducing symptoms of overactive bladder in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Health care burdens from neurodegenerative diseases are expected to increase disproportionately. Increasing age also predisposes this same population to other chronic diseases including osteoporosis, a progressive systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass, which leads to an increase susceptibility to fractures. In the United States, 44 million people are estimated to be at risk for osteoporosis and low bone mass emphasizing the enormity of this public health problem. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting about 1 million people. Evidence indicates that Parkinson's disease patients are at a higher risk for low bone mineral density, which can contribute to increased fractures compared to healthy subjects. In fact, several risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with PD have been identified, including advanced stages of PD, low body mass index, inadequate sunlight exposure and decreased vitamin D levels. Some or all of these factors in conjunction with decreased immobilization that may occur with PD, put patients at increased risks for fractures. Few studies however have examined bone markers in PD patients. Even fewer studies have examined the impact of Vitamin D supplementation on bone metabolism and mineralization in PD patients. Vitamin D is an essential component in bone health, promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations, which enable normal mineralization of bone.

Therapeutic management of gait disorders in very advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients can sometimes be disappointing, since dopaminergic drug treatments and subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation are more effective for limb-related Parkinsonian signs than for gait disorders. Gait disorders could be also partly related to noradrenergic system impairment, pharmacological modulation of both dopamine and noradrenaline pathways could potentially improve the symptomatology. The investigators have demonstrated using an open label study on 17 advanced PD patients that chronic, high doses of methylphenidate (MPD) improved gait, freezing of gait, motor symptoms and attention in the absence of L-Dopa and increased the intensity of response of these symptoms to L-Dopa (Devos et al., 2007). The investigators aimed to confirm their results using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentric trial. The investigators will assess the clinical value of chronic, high doses (1 mg/kg/day) of MPD vs placebo in 88 non demented PD patients suffering from severe gait disorders with freezing despite their use of optimal dopaminergic doses and eventually STN stimulation parameters. Efficacy will be assessed directly and on video in the absence of L-Dopa and again after acute administration of the drug, both before and after a 3-month course of MPD, using Stand Walk Sit test (primary criteria), the "Freezing Of Gait trajectory", RGSE scale, the UPDRS scores, the dyskinesia rating scale, Achiron scales and using auto-questionnaires of Giladi, ABC scale and PDQ 39. Attention will be assessed using reactions times. Drowsiness will be assessed using Epworth and Parkinson's disease Sleep Scales. Apathy and depression will be monitored with Lille Apathy Rating Scale, MADRS, BPRS, MINI and psychiatric interview. Cardiologic and general tolerance will be also monitored. This study could lead to propose methylphenidate with a good efficacy/ risk balance in advanced PD patients suffering from severe gait disorders with freezing of gait, drowsiness and attention deficit.

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of continuous levodopa infusion on autonomic nervous system in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), blood pressure regulation and sweating. The investigators' hypothesis is that levodopa infusion may alleviate hyperhidrosis and orthostatic hypotension.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether oral intake of COMT inhibitors affects the smooth plasma levodopa levels achieved by intestinal levodopa/carbidopa infusion in advanced Parkinson's disease patients. The hypothesis is that COMT inhibitors make plasma concentrations of levodopa more fluctuating.

Parkinson's disease patients may have pronounced ON-OFF motor fluctuations. These motor fluctuations are currently treated with medication and surgery, which are limited by their efficacy and side effects. Our study aims to determine whether relaxation guided imagery can alleviate the OFF state of PD patients and therefore can be used as an adjunct to conventional medication.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of naltrexone in reducing ICD symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients taking a dopamine agonist.

The purpose of this trial is to determine if methylphenidate (MPD), a drug marketed in the U.S. to treat hyperactivity and narcolepsy, added to levodopa, will increase the beneficial effects of levodopa without bothersome side effects in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

In Parkinson's Disease, the mitochondrial membranes in cells that produce dopamine become damaged by oxidants, leading to the death of these cells and progressive tremor, slowness of movement and the loss of neurons in the substantia nigra (a part of the brain that is involved in movement). Mitoquinone is targeted to reach the membrane of mitochondria and provide protection from damaging oxidants. There are no treatments currently available to slow the progression of PD and this trial will help advance the development of this unique disease modifying drug. This trial will enroll 120 participants with untreated early onset of PD. Participants will be randomized to receive 1 of 3 treatments: 40 mg of MitoQ tablets, 80 mg of MitoQ tablets or placebo. The researchers, participants and sponsor will all be blinded to the treatment allocation. Participants will be assessed after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 months of treatment and again 28 days after their last dose. The effectiveness of the trial drug will be measured via the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The safety of the trial drug will be monitored via regular participant examinations, blood tests, ECG and collecting information on adverse events.

The objective of this trial is to evaluate safety and efficacy of rotigotine nasal spray (SPM 952) in a single dose application scheme. Subjects will undergo a 2 - 28 days screening period in which eligibility criteria will be checked. Subjects will then be hospitalized for one night. In the morning of the next day, subjects will be randomly assigned either to rotigotine or placebo nasal spray and will then receive a single dose of trial medication. Safety assessments after application include adverse events, 12-lead electrocardiograms, blood pressure and heart rate assessments, and laboratory checks. Efficacy will be assessed by application of motor examination scores. The first subject is planned to be enrolled in February 2006. The last subject is planned to be enrolled in May 2006. Last subject out is expected for August 2006.