Exercise, Brain Imaging, Cognition, and Gait in Parkinsonism
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Parkinsons Disease |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 50 - 90 |
| Updated: | 11/1/2018 |
| Start Date: | August 2014 |
| End Date: | March 2019 |
| Contact: | Laurie King, PhD |
| Email: | kingla@ohsu.edu |
| Phone: | 503-418-2602 |
Peripheral and Central Postural Disorders in the Elderly
There is emerging research detailing the relationship between balance/gait/falls and
cognition. Imaging studies also suggest a link between structural and functional changes in
the frontal lobe (a region commonly associated with cognitive function) and mobility. People
with Parkinson's disease have important changes in cognitive function that may impact
rehabilitation efficacy. Our underlying hypothesis is that cognitive function and frontal
lobe connections with the basal ganglia and brainstem posture/locomotor centers are
responsible for postural deficits in people with Parkinson's disease and play a role in
rehabilitation efficacy. The purpose of this study is to 1) determine if people with
Parkinson's disease can improve mobility and/or cognition after partaking in a cognitively
challenging mobility exercise program and 2) determine if cognition and brain circuitry
deficits predict responsiveness to exercise rehabilitation.
Design: This study is a randomized cross-over controlled intervention to take place at a
University Balance Disorders Laboratory. The study participants will be people with
Parkinson's disease who meet inclusion criteria for the study. The intervention will be 6
weeks of group exercise (case) and 6 weeks of group education (control). The exercise is a
cognitively challenging program based on the Agility Boot Camp for people with PD. The
education program is a 6-week program to teach people how to better live with a chronic
disease. The primary outcome measure is the MiniBESTest and the secondary outcomes are
measures of mobility, cognition and neural imaging.
Discussion: The results from this study will further our understanding of the relationship
between cognition and mobility with a focus on brain circuitry as it relates to
rehabilitation potential.
cognition. Imaging studies also suggest a link between structural and functional changes in
the frontal lobe (a region commonly associated with cognitive function) and mobility. People
with Parkinson's disease have important changes in cognitive function that may impact
rehabilitation efficacy. Our underlying hypothesis is that cognitive function and frontal
lobe connections with the basal ganglia and brainstem posture/locomotor centers are
responsible for postural deficits in people with Parkinson's disease and play a role in
rehabilitation efficacy. The purpose of this study is to 1) determine if people with
Parkinson's disease can improve mobility and/or cognition after partaking in a cognitively
challenging mobility exercise program and 2) determine if cognition and brain circuitry
deficits predict responsiveness to exercise rehabilitation.
Design: This study is a randomized cross-over controlled intervention to take place at a
University Balance Disorders Laboratory. The study participants will be people with
Parkinson's disease who meet inclusion criteria for the study. The intervention will be 6
weeks of group exercise (case) and 6 weeks of group education (control). The exercise is a
cognitively challenging program based on the Agility Boot Camp for people with PD. The
education program is a 6-week program to teach people how to better live with a chronic
disease. The primary outcome measure is the MiniBESTest and the secondary outcomes are
measures of mobility, cognition and neural imaging.
Discussion: The results from this study will further our understanding of the relationship
between cognition and mobility with a focus on brain circuitry as it relates to
rehabilitation potential.
Inclusion criteria:
Aged 50-90 years old. No musculoskeletal or peripheral or central nervous system disorders
(other than idiopathic Parkinson disease (iPD) or parkinsonism) that could significantly
affect balance or gait .
Capable of following directions. iPD subjects: UK Brain Bank criteria, i.e., bradykinesia
and at least one of the following: rest tremor, muscular rigidity, and postural instability
not cause by visual, vestibular, cerebellar or proprioceptive dysfunction. Unilateral
onset, response to levodopa.
Parkinsonism subjects: Gait characterized by slow short steps, shuffling gait and may be
wide-based, with FoG, postural instability.
Exclusion criteria:
Inability to stand or walk for 2 min without an assistive device Recent changes in
medication Excessive use of alcohol or recreational drugs, Contraindications to MRI scans
(eg, claustrophobia, metal in body) Intervention subjects will be excluded if: 1)
participating in a vigorous exercise program more than 2 x/week, 2) A medical condition
that contraindicates exercise participation.
Parkinsonism subjects: iPD and Parkinson plus syndromes such as Progressive Supranuclear
Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Syndrome, or Cerebellar Ataxia.
Idiopathic PD subjects: Same as above and deep brain stimulation electrodes. Significant
tremor that would interfere withMRI scan.
Control subjects: Will be matched for age and gender to iPD and parkinsonism groups.
We found this trial at
1
site
3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, Oregon 97239
Portland, Oregon 97239
503 494-8311
Principal Investigator: Fay Horak
Phone: 503-418-2602
Oregon Health and Science University In 1887, the inaugural class of the University of Oregon...
Click here to add this to my saved trials
