Clinical Research Directory

The Efficacy of Psilocybin Therapy for Depression in Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study is to understand whether people with Parkinson's Disease and depression have improvement in their symptoms after psilocybin therapy.

A Study of Dimdazenil in Patients With Parkinson's Disease and Insomnia

This study will use sleep parameters measured by polysomnography (PSG) as the primary means to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dimdazenil, a GABAA receptor partial agonist, in treating insomnia in Parkinson's disease patients.

Moving Yourself in Space and Time: MYSTIC

This study is being done to answer the question: Do people with Parkinson's benefit from a new stepping therapy, and how do people with Parkinson's best learn new steps and rhythms set to music? Researchers will also compare individuals with Parkinson's Disease with people with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and with people with neither of these conditions. The purpose of this study is to identify principles of human-music interactions to establish underlying guiding theories for application to music-based rehabilitation for older populations with neurodegenerative disease, leading to more refined and targeted music-based rhythmic movement therapies.

Coordinated Reset Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical implant procedure for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease (PD) utilizing medical devices approved by the FDA. A novel approach to current DBS approaches is called "Coordinated Reset" DBS (CR-DBS) which uses different patterns of stimulation at lower currents and can address the limitations of traditional DBS (T-DBS) that uses continuous high amplitude and high frequency stimulation. This study will evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of CR-DBS in PD. The results from this study will significantly advance the development of CR-DBS for the treatment of PD. Findings in this study will also provide the rationale for further development of this novel DBS approach for other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The Effects of Tele-Rehabilitation-Based Dual-Task Upper Extremity Training in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of tele-rehabilitation-based synchronous and asynchronous dual-task upper extremity training with clinical based dual-task upper extremity training and conventional single-task upper extremity training in patients with Parkinson's disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Whether there are differences in motor symptoms, hand dexterity, upper extremity functions, grip strength, executive functions, daily living activities, and treatment satisfaction between tele-rehabilitation-based synchronous and asynchronous dual-task upper extremity training, clinical-based dual-task upper extremity training, and conventional single-task upper extremity training in patients with Parkinson's disease. * Whether there is a difference in telemedicine satisfaction between tele-rehabilitation-based synchronous and asynchronous dual-task upper extremity training in patients with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will compare conventional single-task upper extremity training, clinical-based dual-task upper extremity training, tele-rehabilitation-based synchronous upper extremity training and tele-rehabilitation-based asynchronous upper extremity training. Participants will: * Receive upper extremity exercise training at the study clinic or home, twice a week for approximately 60 minutes each time, for 6 weeks. * Participate in assessments at the study clinic before and after exercise training.

Open-label Study to Evaluate Brain α-Synuclein Deposition Using PET and [18F]MK-0947 in Parkinson's Disease

This clinical study is being conducted to learn more about a new imaging drug called \[18F\]MK-0947, which is designed to help doctors see changes in the brain related to Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a condition that affects movement, balance, and thinking. The drug works with a type of scan called PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to show areas of the brain where a protein called α-synuclein builds up. This buildup is linked to PD and other brain disorders. The main goal of this study is to find out if \[18F\]MK-0947 is safe for people and if it works well to show α-synuclein in the brain. The study will also look at how the drug moves through the body and how much radiation it gives off. Researchers hope this information will help develop better tools for diagnosing PD and tracking how it changes over time. Who can join? Adults who have PD or who are healthy may be able to take part. Participants will have screening tests to make sure they qualify. What does participation involve? People in the study will have PET scans, blood tests, and other safety checks. Some participants will also have an MRI scan. The study is divided into two parts: Part 1 looks at how the drug works in the brain of PD patients and healthy elderly participants, and Part 2 measures radiation levels in healthy participants. Why is this important? There is currently no cure for PD, and better imaging tools could help researchers develop new treatments. By joining this study, participants will help advance research that may improve care for people with PD and similar conditions in the future.

IMPACT 360 for Parkinson's Disease

The IMPACT 360 study will evaluate the effects of a combined intervention of exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition on 8 key indicators of health and the mechanisms that drive these changes. 60 subjects aged 40 to 85 with a current diagnosis Parkinson's disease will be recruited. This study will follow a partial crossover design. All participants will receive the intervention. Participants randomized into the intervention group after their baseline screening will receive the 6-month intervention. Those randomized into the waitlist group will complete another assessment at the end of the 6-month care as usual phase before receiving the intervention.

Immediate Effects of External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation on Motor Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common movement disorder, is characterized by motor symptoms including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. These symptoms substantially impair quality of life and increase the risk of falls, disability, and accidental injury, representing a major therapeutic challenge. External trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has shown promising potential in PD and other movement disorders. A clinical study published in 2017 suggested that trigeminal nerve stimulation may contribute to the alleviation of motor symptoms in patients with PD. In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS) as an adjunctive treatment for gait impairment caused by multiple sclerosis; the lingual nerve is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. In the same year, experimental evidence showed that trigeminal nerve stimulation could activate intracranial dopaminergic neurons and modulate dopamine release in mice. These findings suggest substantial potential for eTNS in modulating motor dysfunction in PD, although high-level clinical evidence remains lacking. This randomized, within-subject study will evaluate the immediate effects of eTNS at different stimulation frequencies on motor dysfunction in patients with PD. Gait parameters will be quantitatively assessed using the IDEEA gait system, together with the MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS Part III), Tinetti Gait Scale, and Hoehn and Yahr Scale. This within-subject study comprises three 20-min stimulation conditions: 120-Hz eTNS, 40-Hz eTNS, and sham stimulation. Each patient with Parkinson's disease will complete all conditions in a single session in randomized order. Instrumented gait analysis, together with motor and gait rating scales, will be used to quantify immediate post-stimulation changes in gait and motor function relative to baseline.

Comparison of Two Different Dual-Task Training Methods in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of motor-motor dual-task training and cognitive-motor dual-task training in patients with Parkinson's disease.The main questions it aims to answer are: \- Whether there is a difference between motor-motor dual-task training and cognitive-motor dual-task training in patients with Parkinson's disease in terms of their effects on motor symptoms, balance, gait, functional mobility, activities of daily living, dual-task activities, cognitive functions, and balance confidence. Researchers will compare single-task training, motor-motor dual task training and cogvitive-motor dual task training. Participants will: * Receive exercise training at the study clinic twice a week for approximately 45 minutes each time, for 6 weeks. * Participate in assessments at the study clinic before and after exercise training.

Validity and Reliability of the Six-Minute Pegboard Ring Test in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's patients who volunteer to participate in the study will be included. Parkinson's patients participating in the study will be referred from the SANKO University Hospital Neurology Outpatient Clinic. The assessments of patients referred from the Neurology Outpatient Clinic will be conducted at the SANKO University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department Research Laboratory. The socio-demographic information of the included patients will be collected. Patients will then be grouped using the Hoehn-Yahr Staging Scale. Vital signs such as blood pressure, saturation, and pulse will be measured. Upper extremity muscle strength will be assessed using a dynamometer. Upper extremity performance will be assessed using the Nine-Hole Peg Test. The patient's fatigue will be assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale, and upper extremity disability will be assessed using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The assessments will be conducted by Physiotherapist Rüveyda GÜRDAL.Except for the six-minute pegboard ring test, the other tests will evaluate the parameters required for an individual's upper extremity function. These parameters are balance, muscle strength, and fine motor skills. The six-minute pegboard ring test will be reassessed one week later by a different physiotherapist at the SANKO University Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory.

A Study of Buntanetap in Participants With PD

This study will examine the long-term safety of buntanetap in participants with PD. This will be a 36-month open-label safety study. This study will be conducted with two cohorts. Cohort 1 will enroll via invitation only for PD participants who have previously participated in buntanetap clinical trials. Cohort 2 will be for PD participants who are receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment. Qualified participants will receive buntanetap 30mg QD after a screening period of up to 42 days.

Remote Haptic Rehabilitation for Parkinson's Disease

Individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) often have motor difficulties that can negatively impact daily activities and their quality of life. Research has shown that to slow the progression of these symptoms, patients should partake in effective physical rehabilitation. However, effective physical rehabilitation has many barriers, including timing, cost, and other personal or system-level challenges. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the haptic remote rehabilitation system for patients with PD using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in a field environment.

Effectiveness of Resistance Exercises Added to Aerobic and Balance Exercises in Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of resistive exercises added to aerobic and balance exercises on quality of life, activities of daily living, cognitive functions, and sarcopenia parameters in patients diagnosed with early-stage PD. The main question it aims to answer is: In patients diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease, do resistive exercises added to aerobic and balance exercises have an effect on quality of life, daily living activities, cognitive function, and sarcopenia parameters? If so, what is the nature of this effect? Patients will undergo an exercise program three days a week for eight weeks. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, on the first day after the treatment and 4 weeks after the end of the treatment.

Biomechanical Effects of EMST® on Swallowing Function in Parkinson's Disease

The aim of this non-randomized intervention study is to investigate the detailed effects of a structured four-week EMST® training program on the biomechanics of swallowing function in dysphagic Parkinson's patients. A combination of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and pharyngeal high-resolution manometry (HRM) will be employed to comprehensively evaluate the neuromuscular changes in swallowing.

Study To Assess Adverse Events and Change in Disease Activity Of 24-hour Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion Of ABBV-951 In Adult Participants With Advanced Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological condition, which affects the brain. PD gets worse over time, but how quickly it progresses varies a lot from person to person. Some symptoms of PD are tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. This study will assess how safe and effective ABBV-951 is in adult participants with PD. Adverse events and change in disease activity is evaluated. ABBV-951 is an investigational (unapproved) drug containing Levodopa Phosphate/Carbidopa Phosphate (LDP/CDP) given as an infusion under the skin for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Adult participants with advanced PD and who have completed M15-736 or M20-339 study will be enrolled. Approximately 130 participants will be enrolled in the study in approximately 60 sites in the United States and Australia. Participants will receive continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) (under the skin) of ABBV-951 for 96 weeks during the Primary Treatment Period and during the optional Extended Treatment Period. There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular visits during the course of the study at a hospital or clinic. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical and remote telephone assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects, and completing questionnaires.

An Observational Study of Subcutaneous Infusion of ABBV-951 to Assess Change in Disease Activity and Adverse Events In Adult Japanese Participants With Advanced Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological condition, which affects the brain. Some symptoms of PD are tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. The purpose of this study is to assess how safe and effective ABBV-951 is in treating participants with Parkinson's disease in real world setting. ABBV-951 is an approved drug being developed for the treatment of PD in Japan. Approximately 250 adult participants over 15 years with a diagnosis of PD who are prescribed ABBV-951 by their physicians will be enrolled in this study across Japan. Participants will receive ABBV-951 as prescribed their physician and followed for 52 weeks. There is expected to be no additional burden for participants in this trial. Study visits may be conducted on-site or virtually as per standard of care.

Exoskeleton-Assisted Mobility in Aging and in Parkinson's Disease

This study will evaluate whether a wearable robotic exoskeleton can improve mobility, balance, and walking in healthy older adults and in individuals living with Parkinson's disease, populations at high risk of falls and mobility limitations. Participants will attend two laboratory sessions. The first session includes clinical assessments, fitting and familiarization with the exoskeleton, and interviews to explore user perceptions. The second session involves performing functional mobility tasks (e.g., walking, standing, turning) with and without the exoskeleton and under different assistance levels, while movement is measured using wearable sensors. The study will assess the immediate effects of the exoskeleton on mobility, compare assistance levels, identify which participants benefit most, and explore user experience and acceptability. Findings will help inform the development and implementation of assistive technologies to support mobility in healthy aging and in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Extension Study To Evaluate Safety And Tolerability Of 24-Hour Daily Exposure Of Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion of ABBV-951 In Adult Participants With Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological condition, which affects the brain. PD gets worse over time, but how quickly it progresses varies a lot from person to person. Some symptoms of PD are tremors, stiffness, and slowness of movement. The purpose of this study is to continue testing whether ABBV-951 is safe, effective, and tolerable in participants with Parkinson's disease after completion of the parent study M15-741. ABBV-951 is an investigational (unapproved) drug containing levodopa phosphate/carbidopa phosphate (LDP/CDP) given as infusion under the skin for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Participants who have successfully completed M15-741 study will immediately enter this study's treatment period to continue receiving ABBV-951. Adult participants with advanced PD will be enrolled. Approximately 130 adult participants will be enrolled in the study at approximately 65 sites worldwide. Participants will receive continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) of ABBV-951 for 24 hours daily during the Primary Treatment Period and during the optional Extended Treatment Period. There may be higher treatment burden for participants in this trial compared to their standard of care. Participants will attend regular clinic visits and have remote assessments completed via phone calls during the course of the study. The effect of the treatment will be checked by medical assessments, blood tests, checking for side effects, and completing questionnaires.

Impact of Force Control of Hip Abductor Muscles in Healthy Adults and Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Both aging and Parkinson's disease (PD) negatively affect postural control and increase the risk of falls, with frontal plane balance being particularly challenging for these populations. While previous studies have mainly focused on sagittal plane balance, the contribution of hip abductor muscles remains unclear, especially regarding their force production and control abilities. Therefore, this study aims to investigate hip abductor muscle force production and force control, and to examine whether these factors are associated with postural control, gait, and balance performance in individuals across different ages and those with PD.

Closed-loop TMS for Tremor

This study investigates the potential of phase-locked transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a non-invasive intervention for tremor in patients with Essential Tremor (ET) and Parkinson's Disease (PD). Tremor is a prevalent symptom that significantly impacts physical function and social participation. ET affects approximately 1% of the global population and worsens with age, while PD tremor is often less responsive to conventional dopaminergic therapy. Current treatments, including oral medications (propranolol, primidone), anticholinergics, and deep brain stimulation (DBS), are either limited by efficacy, side effects, or invasiveness. These challenges highlight the need for alternative, less invasive therapeutic options. The rationale for the study is based on the principle of phase-dependent neural modulation. Just as a swing's amplitude can be increased or decreased depending on when it is pushed, neural oscillations underlying tremor can theoretically be suppressed by precisely timed stimulation. Previous studies have shown that TMS over the motor cortex at tremor frequency (\~5 Hz) produces modest improvements in PD rest tremor. This study aims to enhance these effects by targeting amplitude-suppressing phases in the tremor cycle, potentially leading to greater and cumulative tremor reduction. The study has two components: Study 1 (Primary Objective): Determine whether phase-locked TMS can acutely reduce tremor. Participants (20 ET, 20 PD) will undergo two visits where tremor is recorded via inertial measurement units (IMUs) and surface EMG. TMS will be delivered over the motor cortex at or below active motor threshold, synchronized to the participant's tremor phase. The primary outcome is the change in tremor power during stimulation compared to no stimulation, measured objectively via IMU signals. Study 2 (Secondary Objective): Examine whether stimulation at the maximal tremor-suppressing phase, identified in Study 1, produces a larger reduction in tremor amplitude than stimulation at the minimal suppressing phase or sham stimulation. This will involve three additional sessions per participant, randomized for order, with outcomes assessed via IMU tremor power and participant-reported measures including the Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire (QUEST), TETRAS, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Study Design and Procedures: The design is a within-subject crossover. Participants may withhold tremor medications during visits to reduce confounding effects. EMG electrodes and IMU sensors will record tremor, while a figure-of-eight TMS coil will deliver phase-locked pulses. Phase-specific stimulation trains are applied for 3 seconds at intervals, with randomized order across multiple blocks. Study sessions last under two hours, including setup and post-stimulation recordings. Participants are recruited via self-referral or through DeNDRoN, screened for eligibility, and provide informed consent. Inclusion criteria require symptomatic ET or PD tremor, age ≥18, and ability to consent. Exclusion criteria include epilepsy, psychiatric illness, metal implants, pacemakers, or other conditions contraindicating TMS. Participants may withdraw at any time without penalty. Safety Measures: TMS and IMU recordings are low-risk, with potential minor effects including scalp tapping sensations, muscle twitches, or mild headaches, which are managed through monitoring and coil adjustment. Serious adverse events are defined, and procedures for reporting and auditing are established in accordance with UK regulations and Good Clinical Practice. Data Analysis: Tremor power will be quantified from IMU recordings using spectral analysis. Statistical comparisons between stimulation conditions and baseline will be conducted using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. The study will employ validated software for randomization and analysis (SPSS, Matlab). Data will be pseudo-anonymized, securely stored, and archived for long-term research use. Ethical Considerations: The study follows the Declaration of Helsinki, Good Clinical Practice, and institutional approvals. Participants' privacy and data protection are ensured under GDPR standards. There are no commercial conflicts of interest, and participants are reimbursed for travel expenses. In summary, this research aims to evaluate the efficacy of phase-locked TMS as a non-invasive, targeted interventionfor tremor in ET and PD. By systematically stimulating the motor cortex at tremor-specific phases, the study seeks to establish a foundation for future minimally invasive treatments that could complement or replace existing pharmacological and surgical options.

Cerebellar Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Modulate Parkinson's Disease Tremor

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by different motor symptoms, including tremor, which is particularly difficult to manage. Common treatments, such as dopaminergic therapy, can have limitations in efficacy. Recent advancements in non-invasive brain stimulation, specifically phase-adaptive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), offer a promising approach to reduce PD tremor. In the current project, a newly developed closed-loop system delivers precisely synchronized cerebellar tACS by aligning stimulation with the intrinsic hand tremor signal. The study will assess the efficacy of this novel approach to reduce hand tremor in PD patients.

Understanding Alpha-Synuclein Spread in Parkinson's Disease Through Blood Biomarkers and Neuroimaging

The project aims to investigate how abnormal accumulation of alpha synuclein and its interaction with tau influence brain function across the Parkinson's disease (PD) spectrum, with particular focus on individuals carrying GBA1 mutations. This interventional, monocentric, cross sectional study includes patients with PD, individuals with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder, and participants without PD. All enrolled subjects will undergo clinical and neuropsychological assessments, blood based biomarker analyses related to neurodegeneration, synaptic and mitochondrial function, and multimodal brain MRI to evaluate brain structure, white matter integrity, and functional connectivity. The study aims to: * characterize the relationship between alpha synuclein/tau pathology and synaptic mitochondrial dysfunction; * identify biomarker and connectivity signatures across disease stages and genetic backgrounds; * integrate preclinical, clinical, biological, and imaging data to support the development of mechanistic models of alpha synuclein propagation. In parallel, preclinical studies in GBA PD mouse models and wild type mice will be used to investigate how changes in PD-related pathology (alpha-synuclein and tau) relates to behavior, brain imaging alterations and mitochondrial, axonal and synaptic damage. Animal model will also aid the validation of a new PET tracer that targets alpha synuclein (i.e., \[¹⁸F\]Syntacasyn). Together, human and preclinical studies are designed to provide a translational framework integrating molecular changes with brain network alterations and clinical heterogeneity in PD.

Movement State-dependent Adaptive DBS for PD

This is a single-center clinical study aiming to improve gait functions in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) by using adaptive neurostimulation to the pallidum. The investigators will use a bidirectional deep brain stimulation device with sensing and stimulation capabilities to 1) identify neural biomarkers to detect the onset of walking by recording neural activities from the motor cortical areas and the globus pallidus, 2) understand the impacts of changes in DBS parameters on gait kinematics and optimize setting parameters for enhancing walking performance, 3) develop a movement state-dependent adaptive deep brain stimulation (DBS) paradigm to automatically switch stimulation settings according to different movement states (i.e., walking vs non-walking). The proposed therapy will deliver personalized neurostimulation based on individual physiological biomarkers to enhance gait function in patients with PD. 6 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who have already been implanted with the Medtronic Summit RC+S device will be enrolled in this study.

Automated Image-Guided Programming of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate an automated deep brain stimulation (DBS) algorithm developed by Boston Scientific called Illumina 3D for motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). The main question it aims to answer is: Is this new automated algorithm effective for treating motor symptoms of PD. Fifteen participants are anticipated to be enrolled. Participants are individuals who recently were implanted with DBS in the subthalamic nucleus as part of their regular clinical treatment and are scheduled to have their DBS turned ON for the first time. In addition to their regular clinical visit when their DBS is turned ON by their clinician, participants are tested on DBS settings determined by Illumina 3D (an automated algorithm). Participants are tested on these different settings across different motor tasks, including walking and finger tapping, as well as answering questionnaires. The experiment is expected to last 1 or 2 days; this is not a longitudinal or long-term trial. Participants return to their usual DBS settings once they leave the clinic.