Parkinson Disease
Conditions
Keywords
gait, posture, transcranial magnetic stimulation, Parkinson's disease
Brief summary
The purpose of this project is to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore the state of excitability of corticocortical and corticofugal (cortex to spinal cord, cortex to brainstem to spinal cord) pathways that project to muscles that control the legs and trunk in people with Parkinson's disease. The outcome variables will be further analyzed to understand their relationship to quantitative measures of postural instability and gait dysfunction. As such, the project can be classified as basic physiologic research. The protocol is not designed to determine if measures of corticocortical or corticofugal excitability can be used as a biomarker to predict disease progression.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Minnesota
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants with Parkinson's disease * Diagnosis of idiopathic PD or dystonia as determined by a movement disorders neurologist in accordance with the UK Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria. * Age 45-80 years. * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (e.g. cane) for 50 meters. Healthy Older Adults (Control participants) * Age 45-80 years (this group will be age and sex-matched to the PD group) * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (cane or walker) Healthy Young Adults * Age 21-44 years (this group will be age and sex-matched to the PD group) * Able to ambulate independently without the use of an assistive device (cane or walker)
Exclusion criteria
* Subjects who describe a history of a frequent vasovagal syncope (fainting) in response to blood, emotional stress, or sensory triggers. * Subjects who are on anti-coagulant medications. * Any musculoskeletal disorder that affects the ability to stand. * History of seizures, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury. * Intracranial metallic or magnetic devices. * Pacemaker or any implanted device. * History of surgery on blood vessels, brain or heart. * Unexplained, recurring headaches or concussion within the last six months. * Moderate to severe hearing impairment. * Subjects who are pregnant. * Dementia diagnosis * Other significant neurological disorders that may affect participation or performance in the study * Implanted deep brain stimulator or other neurosurgeries to treat PD.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| average gate speed | baseline | Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion. |
| stride length | baseline | Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion. |
| cadence | baseline | Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion. |
| turn speed | baseline | Participants will walk on an overground pressure walkway (GAITRite, Franklin, NJ) that provides spatiotemporal measures of walking. In addition, they will wear a set of wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Opals) attached to the feet, wrists and trunk (lumbar and sternum) to capture whole-body motion. |
| ankle rigidity | 25mins | Quantitative measures of rigidity will be obtained using a custom-built robotic manipulandum. The manipulandum moves the ankle through a sinusoidal or triangular range of motion (25 deg of plantar flexion to 5 degrees of dorsiflexion; modified as needed for participant's range of motion) while measuring the resistive torque generated by ankle impedance. |
| Root mean square of the excursion of the center of pressure | 5mins | Participants will stand on a set of force platforms that measures the forces and pressures beneath the feet. Primary outcome |
| single pulse TMS | 1.5hrs | A measure of the excitability of corticospinal pathways. Primary outcome variables: Peak-to-peak amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP) responses to TMS in lower limb and trunk muscles. |
| Paired-Pulse TMS (Intracortical excitability): | 1hr | A measure of the excitability of intracortical (motor cortex-motor cortex) inhibitory (short-intracortical inhibition, SICI) and excitatory (short-intracortical inhibition, ICF) networks. Primary outcome variables: Peak-to-peak amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP) responses to TMS in lower limb and trunk muscles. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTJoshua De Kam
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORColum MacKinnon, MD
University of Minnesota
Outcome results
None listed