Reduce freezing episodes while walking

Trial ID
NCT06506058
Official Title
Vestibular and Cortical Contributions to Transitions in Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease
Goal
Reduce freezing episodes while walking
Phase
NA
Status
RECRUITING
Sponsor
University of Minnesota
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
75 participants
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Interventions
EVS and EEG

Plain-Language Summary

Aiming to understand why people with Parkinson's suddenly freeze while walking, the team is studying how vestibular signals and brain activity drive those transitions. They use small, noninvasive electrical vestibular stimulation applied by electrodes near the ears to gently perturb balance signals that influence gait, while scalp EEG records the timing and patterns of cortical activity to see what precedes or follows freezing; this is a probe, not a drug, so it does not interact with levodopa. The study is recruiting people with Parkinson's age 40 to 80, with and without freezing, plus healthy age-matched controls (40 to 80) and younger controls (21 to 44), all able to walk 50 meters unaided, and excludes people with pacemakers or implanted brain devices, vestibular or visual disorders, seizures or recent head injury, and pregnancy.

Locations

  • University of Minnesota, Movement Disorders Lab, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this trial testing?
This trial is studying EVS and EEG. Aiming to understand why people with Parkinson's suddenly freeze while walking, the team is studying how vestibular signals and brain activity drive those transitions. They use small, noninvasive electrical vestibular stimulation applied by electrodes near the ears to gently perturb balance signals that influence gait, while scalp EEG records the timing and patterns of cortical activity to see what precedes or follows freezing; this is a probe, not a drug, so it does not interact with levodopa. The study is recruiting people with Parkinson's age 40 to 80, with and without freezing, plus healthy age-matched controls (40 to 80) and younger controls (21 to 44), all able to walk 50 meters unaided, and excludes people with pacemakers or implanted brain devices, vestibular or visual disorders, seizures or recent head injury, and pregnancy.
Who can participate?
Participants must be between 21 Years and 80 Years.
Where is this trial located?
This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
Does it cost anything to join?
No. There is no cost to participate. Study-related care and treatment are provided at no charge.
How long does the trial last?
This trial is estimated to last approximately 3 years and 8 months.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov