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
Summary For Families
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.
- Will I get the real drug or a placebo?
- It depends on the trial design. Some Parkinson's trials are placebo controlled, meaning a portion of participants get an inactive comparison while others get the experimental treatment. Some use crossover designs so everyone eventually receives the active treatment at some point. Observational trials do not use a placebo at all because they are not testing a new treatment. The consent form for any specific trial spells out the design and your odds of being assigned to placebo before you enroll.
- How often will I need to visit the study site?
- Visit frequency varies by trial. Many Parkinson's studies require an in person visit every 4 to 12 weeks during the active treatment phase, with shorter or longer gaps depending on the design. The site coordinator can give you the full visit schedule before you sign anything, so you know what the time commitment looks like.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Will travel or parking be reimbursed?
- Many trials reimburse for parking, mileage, and sometimes lodging if the site is far from your home. Reimbursement policies vary by sponsor and site. When you contact the trial team, ask specifically what is covered and how reimbursement is processed.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.