Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Neurobiological Drivers of Mobility Resilience: The Dopaminergic System - Supplemental Open-Label Arm
Sponsor: University of Michigan
Summary
Walking with age becomes both slower and less 'automated', requiring more attention and brain resources. As a result, older adults have a greater risk of negative outcomes and falls. There is an urgent need to identify factors that can help compensate for these harmful factors and reduce walking impairments, as there are currently no effective treatments available. Investigators have recently discovered that \~20% of older adults maintain fast walking speed even in the presence of small blood vessel brain changes and leg problems, thus appearing to be protected against these harmful factors. The investigators work suggests that the brain dopamine (DA) system may be a source of this protective capacity. Investigators have also shown that lower levels of dopamine are associated with slow walking. Investigators will be investigating the role of dopamine on slow walking and other parkinsonian signs in this open-label study using detailed clinical assessment, assessment of dopamine activity, and clinical interventions.
Official title: Neurobiological Drivers of Mobility Resilience: The Dopaminergic System
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
60 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
5
Start Date
2024-10-29
Completion Date
2025-04-03
Last Updated
2026-04-14
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Carbidopa 25 mg
Participants will take one 25mg Carbidopa tablet 3 times a day for 10 days.
Carbidopa-Levodopa 25/100 mg
Participants will take one 25/100mg carbidopa-levodopa tablet 3 times a day on days 4-6, then increase to 1.5 tablets 3 times a day on days 7-10.
Locations (2)
Domino's Farms
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
University Hospital
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States