Neurodegenerative Disorder

Researchers are investigating how balance and walking abilities relate to detailed movement measurements in people with Multiple Sclerosis MS. This observational study focuses on understanding the connection between clinical tests of function and objective biomechanical data. The goal is to identify which movement characteristics best reflect balance, gait, and physical performance challenges faced by individuals with MS. Participants will attend a single laboratory session where they undergo biomechanical analysis using the Vicon motion capture system. They will complete functional assessments of balance, gait, and physical performance, as well as questionnaires about fear of falling and fatigue. Spasticity in the lower limbs will also be assessed during this visit. During the session, participants will perform tests such as the mini-BESTest for balance, Functional Gait Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, and a 2-minute walk test. Questionnaires like the Fall Efficacy Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale will be completed. Researchers will analyze these collected data to explore how biomechanical and functional measures relate, aiming to improve assessment tools for MS rehabilitation.

This observational study investigates how self-compassion and self-efficacy relate to symptom severity, functional ability, and quality of life in adults diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. The research aims to better understand these psychological factors in people living with Parkinsons disease stages 1 to 3, within an age range of 40 to 85 years. Participants will complete a set of self-report questionnaires during one session to assess their levels of self-compassion, self-efficacy, symptom severity, functional status, and quality of life. No therapeutic treatments or interventions are provided. The study collects data at a single time point to analyze associations among these outcomes. During the study visit, participants will be assessed with various scales and tests including the Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease scale, Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Six-Minute Walk test, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire-39. These assessments help evaluate physical function, symptoms, and quality of life. The study is led by Acibadem University and participation involves completing questionnaires and physical tests in one session.

Researchers are evaluating the Turkish version of the Heat Sensitivity Scale in individuals with Parkinsons disease. This cross-sectional observational study aims to examine the scales validity and reliability, including its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The goal is to provide a trustworthy tool for assessing temperature sensitivity in Turkish-speaking people diagnosed with Parkinsons disease aged 40 to 85. Participants will complete assessments that include the Heat Sensitivity Scale and the Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire-39 PDQ-39. These measurements will be taken at baseline to evaluate their psychometric properties. No interventions or treatments are administered as part of this observational study. During the study, participants will attend assessments at the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic, where cognitive and communication abilities will be evaluated to ensure they can complete the questionnaires. Researchers will measure the Heat Sensitivity Scale total score and PDQ-39 total and subscale scores at the time of questionnaire completion. The study spans from May 2026 to May 2027, with the primary outcome measured at baseline.

This research aims to evaluate a 6-month community walking program called the 10,000 Step Club 10KSC for people with Parkinsons disease PD and their caregivers in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program focuses on increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behavior, fear of falling, loneliness, and social isolation among participants. It is designed to encourage connection among people with PD and promote accountability for reaching a goal of 10,000 steps per day. Participants will join one of three weekly walking groups held in local parks across the Las Vegas valley. Each group, led by University of Nevada, Las Vegas physical therapy students, will meet once a week for a 60-minute walk using Nordic walking poles to support stability and posture. Participants will receive a step watch to track their daily steps in real-time and may attend additional walking sessions if desired. The program is offered in English and Spanish and includes an incentive system to motivate participants. During the study, participants will be assessed before and after the 6-month program. Researchers will monitor daily average step counts, fear of falling avoidance behavior, social isolation, loneliness, and self-efficacy. They will also evaluate the programs feasibility, safety, and diversity of enrollment. The total participation time is 6 months, with ongoing encouragement to increase physical activity while fostering social connections among people with Parkinsons disease.

The 100-Year Human Aging Study is a long-term observational research project enrolling adult participants to undergo detailed multi-system health screenings and follow them throughout their lives until death. The study aims to identify which health measurements taken at enrollment and repeatedly over time can predict overall mortality, cause-specific death, serious diseases, and functional disability. It addresses the current lack of validated longevity measures by generating data on how various physiological and cognitive functions relate to aging outcomes. Participants undergo a comprehensive clinical screening that includes tests of cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, mobility, neurocognitive performance, sensory functions, and metabolic health. Structural imaging assessments like DEXA scans, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, retinal photography, and vascular ultrasound are performed. Laboratory tests and detailed medical, social, and environmental histories are also collected. The study allows participation from single tests up to a full two-visit screening, with repeat testing encouraged to track health changes over time. Throughout the study, participants receive individualized reports with investigational estimates of biological age and predicted mortality risks, which are being evaluated against actual health outcomes. Researchers collect data continuously on mortality, disease occurrence, disability, and health behavior changes. The study involves ongoing follow-up with periodic assessments and aims to preserve all collected data for future analyses, with participant involvement potentially spanning their entire lifespan.

Researchers are evaluating the optimization of 18F-DOPA PETCT imaging in specific patient groups including pediatric patients with congenital hyperinsulinism or neuroblastoma, pediatric and adult patients with neuroendocrine tumors or brain tumors, and adults suspected of Parkinsons disease or Lewy body dementia. The study aims to improve image quality using a new digital PETCT scanner and intravenous furosemide, while also exploring gallbladder activity patterns related to dopaminergic degeneration. Participants will receive an intravenous injection of 18F-DOPA, with some also receiving a single intravenous dose of furosemide. The study includes a primary objective of assessing image quality improvements in the pelvis area and a secondary objective examining gallbladder activity patterns using dynamic imaging in a subgroup. Imaging data will be compared to previous scans with older technology. During the study, participants will undergo PETCT scans, with measurements of lesion size and activity, bladder activity, and image artifact scoring. A questionnaire will screen for gallbladder disease history. The research team will analyze the imaging results and gallbladder activity patterns, with follow-up assessments occurring within one to three months. The total planned enrollment is 800 patients over approximately five years, with detailed monitoring of image optimization and gallbladder activity.

Researchers are investigating the long-term safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of a home-based peroneal electrical transcutaneous neuromodulation eTNM4 treatment using the URIS I12 device in people with Parkinsons disease PD or Essential Tremor ET. Earlier, a 6-week pilot study with 24 participants showed that this home treatment was safe, well tolerated, and had high adherence, with no treatment-related side effects. Although not designed to prove effectiveness, the pilot suggested improvements in tremor symptoms that lasted for weeks after treatment ended. This extension study aims to further evaluate these outcomes over a longer period. All participants will receive the peroneal eTNM treatment using the URIS I12 neurostimulator device. This device delivers electrical stimulation directly through the skin to the peroneal nerve. The study follows the same treatment procedure as previous studies but applies it over a longer timeframe to assess ongoing effects. This is an open-label, single-site study lasting 24 months, during which participants will continue home-based therapy under the study protocol. Participants will be monitored for safety and tolerability throughout the 24-month treatment period, with particular attention to any adverse events related to the therapy. Effectiveness will be assessed using patient self-reports and clinical scales measuring tremor severity and motor function. Researchers will also track participants adherence and overall experience with the home treatment. The study aims to provide comprehensive data on the long-term impact of this non-invasive neuromodulation therapy on symptoms related to movement disorders in PD and ET.

This research focuses on elderly patients hospitalized in Continuing and Rehabilitation Care Units, many of whom suffer from neurodegenerative diseases and need personalized rehabilitation care. The study evaluates the use of ergonomic cutlery handles tailored to patients hand grip ability, aiming to improve their autonomy during meals and potentially reduce malnutrition risks. These custom handles are made using 3D printing technology, offering a lightweight and inexpensive alternative to standard adapted cutlery. Participants will start with a functional and joint assessment of their hand to determine the optimal diameter for the cutlery handles 25, 30, 35, or 40 mm. Their autonomy in eating and the amount of food consumed will be measured at three lunch times before using the adapted handles Day 0, the first lunch using the handles Day 1, and after three days of use Day 3. Ergotherapists will also assess upper limb compensations during meals without and with the technical aid. Throughout the study, participants autonomy in eating is evaluated using the Katz scale, with additional assessments by ergotherapists and dieticians. The study tracks changes in food intake and physical compensations over three days, ending after the Day 3 assessments. The main outcome measured is patients food autonomy at Day 1, with secondary outcomes including autonomy and food intake at Day 3 and upper limb compensations. Participation lasts only through the initial assessment and the three-day intervention period.

Researchers are investigating the effects of deep brain stimulation DBS on brain function in patients with various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinsons disease, essential tremor, dystonia, depression, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and Alzheimers disease. This prospective cohort study aims to use advanced MRI techniques, particularly functional MRI fMRI, to better understand how DBS influences brain circuits and to explore whether fMRI can aid clinical practice in managing DBS therapy. Participants in this study include patients who will undergo or have already undergone DBS electrode placement. The study involves performing structural MRI scans using 1.5 Tesla or 3 Tesla machines as well as resting state and task-based fMRI scans. DBS patients will be scanned while their devices are programmed at different stimulation settings, including switched off and switched on states. The fMRI results will be shared with clinicians to help guide DBS programming decisions. During the study, participants will have multiple brain scans from three months before DBS implantation to one year after. Researchers will assess brain areas activated by DBS, examine structural and functional brain connectivity through MRI, and monitor clinical outcomes. The study includes regular evaluations to observe how DBS impacts brain function over time, aiming to improve post-operative follow-up and optimize treatment for these patients.

This trial investigates the use of 40 Hz flicker light stimulation to address insomnia in patients with Parkinsons disease PD, a condition marked by motor and non-motor symptoms including sleep disturbances. Current drug treatments for PD-related insomnia may not be sufficient and can cause side effects, so this study explores a non-drug method that may influence brain activity related to sleep regulation. Approximately 30 patients with PD and significant insomnia symptoms will participate in this randomized, single-blind, controlled study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving 40 Hz flicker light stimulation and the other receiving 100 Hz control light. Both groups will receive the light for 30 minutes each night at bedtime for seven consecutive nights, alongside their stable Parkinsons medication. The flicker light is delivered using a specialized device with parameters adjusted for safety and comfort. The study focuses specifically on this PD insomnia group within a larger parent protocol. Throughout the trial, participants will complete sleep assessments including the Parkinsons Disease Sleep Scale-2 PDSS-2, sleep quality questionnaires, and sleep diaries. Objective sleep measures such as total sleep time and awakenings will be collected using polysomnography when possible. Other non-motor symptoms will also be evaluated. Safety will be monitored through adverse event tracking, vital signs, and checking for any visual discomfort. The primary outcome is the change in PDSS-2 score from baseline to Day 7, with additional follow-up assessments conducted at Day 28.