Dyskinesia

Researchers are studying the brain's action observation network (AON), which is involved in understanding and imitating movements, especially focusing on subcortical areas and the cerebellum. The study aims to explore how this network functions in healthy individuals and in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) who have early brain injuries. This research seeks to understand differences in brain activation patterns and their relation to clinical features in CP patients using advanced imaging techniques. Participants will undergo a 7 Tesla MRI scan using a high-resolution functional and anatomical protocol. The MRI will capture detailed images of brain structures including the cerebral cortex, subcortical nuclei, and cerebellum. Visual tasks involving observation of hand movements and tool use will be presented during the scan. CP patients will also receive a full clinical assessment before the MRI. The study includes both healthy volunteers and CP patients, with careful monitoring of participant compliance to avoid motion artifacts. During the study, researchers will evaluate brain activation and connectivity maps of the AON from the 7T MRI data. Participants' motor functions and clinical characteristics will be assessed for correlation with imaging results. The study involves observation during MRI scanning, clinical assessments, and monitoring of participants' responses to visual stimuli. This trial is expected to provide detailed insights into brain network organization and its changes in CP. The total participation includes MRI scanning and clinical evaluations around a single visit.

Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) often face difficulties in accessing exercise programs tailored to their needs due to limited mobility, lack of suitable options, and restricted physiotherapy access. Regular exercise is important for improving physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life, but many adults with CP do not have structured opportunities for physical activity. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of delivering an accessible online exercise program designed specifically for adults with CP, focusing on demand, practicality, acceptability, and potential benefits to physical, mental, and social health. The study will recruit 60 adults with CP who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will participate in an 8-week online exercise and education program that includes weekly online exercise classes targeting strength, balance, and range of movement, along with educational materials covering topics like exercise, nutrition, fatigue, bone health, pain management, mental health, and sleep. The other group will receive the same educational materials over 8 weeks without the exercise classes and will be informed about the home exercise program after the intervention period. Participants will be monitored throughout the study with data collected on attendance, completion rates, engagement with exercises, and any adverse events. Health-related surveys will be completed before and after the program to assess changes in physical function, mobility, pain, fatigue, sleep, self-efficacy, depression, and participation. Selected participants will also provide feedback through interviews. The study duration includes rolling recruitment over 1.2 years and outcome measurements over 2 years, aiming to support the development of effective online exercise programs for adults with CP.

Researchers are evaluating a new therapy approach called MOBILE to improve walking ability in children and teens with Cerebral Palsy. This study aims to find out if the therapy is acceptable and helpful to both the children and their families when provided in a community setting. The key questions include whether participants tolerate the therapy, if families find it manageable, and if children complete all therapy sessions and assessments as planned over the course of the study. The therapy uses motor learning principles to target each child's specific walking goal. Participants will complete a total of 30 hours of therapy over 6 weeks, with at least 24 hours conducted in a clinic. The remaining hours can be done through a home program. This flexible format allows children to choose how they complete their therapy sessions while focusing on improving their walking patterns. During the study, children will be assessed before and after therapy to see if they meet their walking goals. Researchers will also interview participants about their experience with the therapy. Various outcome measures will be tracked over 2 years, including recruitment, adherence, retention, adverse events, fidelity to the intervention, and the acceptability of the therapy. Functional walking tests and quality of life assessments will be done at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Participants are involved in therapy sessions, assessments, and interviews throughout the study period.

Researchers are developing a multicenter registry to collect and share data on pediatric patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders such as dystonia, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, and mood disorders. The study aims to improve understanding of DBS safety and effectiveness in children, as current data are limited and individual centers often have too few cases for strong research. This registry will support large-scale analyses and help refine DBS as a treatment option for hyperkinetic movement disorders in the pediatric population. The study involves gathering both retrospective and prospective clinical data from multiple pediatric centers. The registry will collect information on surgical techniques, patient outcomes, implant sites, and long-term effects of DBS. This collaborative data-sharing approach enables comprehensive evaluation of which patients benefit most from DBS and how it impacts their quality of life over time. Participants include children aged 0 to 18 years who have already received or are scheduled to receive DBS for neurological movement disorders. Data will be collected over five years to monitor safety, efficacy, and quality of life outcomes. The study does not involve treatment administration but focuses on gathering and analyzing clinical information. Parental or legal guardian consent is required for prospective participation.

This research aims to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of two types of play-based training programs delivered by researchers and caregivers at home or in community settings. These programs focus on improving arm function in children aged 3 to 8 years with hemiplegia, a condition causing weakness on one side of the body. The study compares a joystick-operated powered ride-on toy program called SPEED training with a creative upper extremity training program called CRAFT training, assessing their acceptance, implementation, and impact on arm use and motor skills. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the SPEED or CRAFT training group. The SPEED group uses ride-on toys modified for joystick control on the affected side, involving navigation games and object tasks to encourage arm use. The CRAFT group engages in seated creative motor games, stretching, strengthening, building, and art activities using the affected arm. Training sessions last 30-45 minutes twice weekly for 6 weeks, with caregivers providing two additional 15-20 minute sessions weekly. The ride-on toy is kept at home during the intervention, and families log all training and other therapies received. Before starting, children undergo standardized assessments and wear sensors and activity monitors to track arm use over a week. These evaluations and caregiver questionnaires are repeated after the 6-week intervention and at a 1-month follow-up. Researchers video record sessions for scoring and monitor treatment adherence, retention, satisfaction, and changes in arm function, strength, movement control, and habitual activity. Participation lasts about 12 weeks, including pretests, intervention, posttests, and follow-up assessments.

Researchers are monitoring people with advanced idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who have moderate to severe motor symptoms that do not respond well to medication. This study is an international, observational registry following patients who have undergone a unilateral pallidotomy using the Exablate Neuro device. The goal is to collect long-term information about this treatment after its approval. The treatment involves a focused ultrasound procedure called unilateral pallidotomy performed with the Exablate Model 4000 system. This registry will observe patients who have already received this procedure as part of their standard care. No additional treatment is given as part of the study. Patients will be followed with visits at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure, and then annually for up to 5 years. During the follow-up visits, researchers will collect information including any side effects, medication use, motor function scores, dyskinesia severity, quality of life, work productivity, and overall impressions from both doctors and patients. Safety and effectiveness will be assessed mainly by tracking responder outcomes over five years. Participants will be closely monitored throughout the study period, which may last up to five years from the time of the procedure.

Researchers are investigating epilepsy-dyskinesia syndromes, which are rare genetic diseases causing both movement disorders and epilepsy in children. This multinational retrospective survey, supported by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, aims to collect detailed clinical and molecular data to better understand these conditions. The study focuses on identifying patterns in disease features, progression, and genetic links to improve knowledge and support precision medicine. The study collects previously recorded data from multiple countries, harmonizing information on clinical features, disease progression, age of onset, genetic variants, and coexisting neurological conditions. By standardizing this data, the survey addresses challenges in rare disease research like small, dispersed patient groups and inconsistent protocols. The goal is to build a shared clinical database and analyze how movement and seizure disorders relate at both clinical and molecular levels. Participants are children aged 0 to 18 years with diagnosed movement disorders linked to specific genetic variants. The study reviews existing medical records and genetic information without new treatments or interventions. Researchers will assess the disease spectrum, how movement disorders affect quality of life, and the effectiveness of symptomatic treatments over one year. The study encourages international collaboration to advance understanding and improve care for these rare conditions.

Researchers are evaluating changes in sleep disturbances among adults with advanced Parkinson's disease who are receiving subcutaneous Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa. Parkinson's disease affects the brain, causing symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. This observational study involves approximately 103 participants prescribed this medication as part of their routine care across multiple sites in Spain. Participants will receive Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa through a subcutaneous infusion as directed by their doctors, following the approved usage guidelines. The study does not involve additional treatments or interventions beyond what is typically prescribed. Participants will be followed for up to 12 weeks while continuing their usual clinical care. During the study, participants will attend regular clinic or hospital visits aligned with their routine care schedule. Researchers will assess changes in sleep disturbances using the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale - 2 (PDSS-2) over approximately 12 weeks. No extra burdens are expected for participants beyond their standard medical visits, and the study aims to monitor the medication's impact on sleep in real-life settings.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of valbenazine in adults with tardive dyskinesia (TD) who continue to have symptoms while taking or after stopping a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor. This Phase 4 open-label study focuses on both clinician- and patient-reported outcomes to better understand valbenazine's impact on TD symptoms in participants with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder. Participants will receive oral valbenazine capsules once daily for 24 weeks. The study monitors changes in involuntary movement using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and evaluates other measures related to disease severity and quality of life. This open-label treatment period allows all participants to receive the study drug without placebo comparison. During the study, participants will undergo assessments at baseline and Week 24 including movement evaluations, clinical global impression scores, and patient-reported impact and health-related quality of life scales. Researchers will track safety and tolerability throughout the 24-week treatment. Total participation time corresponds to the 24 weeks of daily valbenazine treatment and follow-up assessments.

Researchers are evaluating the long-term safety and effectiveness of Abbott deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems used for various movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, disabling tremor, and dystonia. This international, prospective, multicenter study collects data from patients implanted with Abbott DBS devices during routine clinical care to understand outcomes over time. Participants implanted with the Abbott DBS system will be observed without altering their treatment, as this is an observational study. The study follows subjects for five years from their initial programming visit to gather information on device performance and patient motor function over time. During the study, participants will have regular assessments using disease-specific motor rating scales such as MDS-UPDRS Part III for Parkinson's disease and FTM-TRS for tremor. Researchers will monitor changes in motor symptoms and record any serious device- or procedure-related adverse events. Study involvement lasts for five years, allowing long-term collection of safety and effectiveness data.