Exercise, Brain Imaging, Cognition, and Gait in Parkinsonism

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

94 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-08-31

Study Completion Date

2018-10-31

Brief Summary

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There is emerging research detailing the relationship between balance/gait/falls and cognition. Imaging studies also suggest a link between structural and functional changes in the frontal lobe (a region commonly associated with cognitive function) and mobility. People with Parkinson's disease have important changes in cognitive function that may impact rehabilitation efficacy. Our underlying hypothesis is that cognitive function and frontal lobe connections with the basal ganglia and brainstem posture/locomotor centers are responsible for postural deficits in people with Parkinson's disease and play a role in rehabilitation efficacy. The purpose of this study is to 1) determine if people with Parkinson's disease can improve mobility and/or cognition after partaking in a cognitively challenging mobility exercise program and 2) determine if cognition and brain circuitry deficits predict responsiveness to exercise rehabilitation.

Design: This study is a randomized cross-over controlled intervention to take place at a University Balance Disorders Laboratory. The study participants will be people with Parkinson's disease who meet inclusion criteria for the study. The intervention will be 6 weeks of group exercise (case) and 6 weeks of group education (control). The exercise is a cognitively challenging program based on the Agility Boot Camp for people with PD. The education program is a 6-week program to teach people how to better live with a chronic disease. The primary outcome measure is the MiniBESTest and the secondary outcomes are measures of mobility, cognition and neural imaging.

Discussion: The results from this study will further our understanding of the relationship between cognition and mobility with a focus on brain circuitry as it relates to rehabilitation potential.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Parkinson's Disease

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Exercise: Agility Boot Camp-Cognitive

Subjects will participate in an 80-minute, group (6 per group) exercise session led by a certified exercise trainer knowledgeable in the Agility Boot Camp-Cognitive (ABC-C) program for 3x/week for 6 weeks. The exercise protocol is an adaptation of our Agility Boot Camp (ABC) exercise program for PD. The exercises are designed as a circuit to challenge movement-skills known to be impaired in PD. Stations will include: Gait training, PWR Moves ©, Agility course, Lunges, Boxing and Tai Chi. Each activity was chosen for its inherent focus on multi-directional movements, dynamic postural transitions, axial mobility, big movements and whole body motor sequencing. Each station (10-20 minutes) has 3 possible progression levels, based on: (1) divided attention with secondary cognitive tasks, (2) response inhibition, (3) limiting external sensory cues, and (4) increasing speed and resistance.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease for 6 week cross-over intervention.

Education: Living with Parkinson's disease

The Education arm is a chronic disease education program to teach patients how to live better with their chronic condition. It was developed by our research team to be specific for people with Parkinson's disease. It will include content and discussion of topics such as sleep, nutrition, and medication management. Classes will consist of a group of subjects (up to 6) meeting with the trainer for 90-minute session, once a week for six weeks. In order to match dose of the education intervention with the exercise intervention, participants will be provided relaxation tapes to be used at home 5 times per week for 30 minutes for an overall education dose of 240 minutes; similar to the exercise dose.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease for 6 week cross-over intervention.

Interventions

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Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease

Exercise and Education for Parkinson's Disease for 6 week cross-over intervention.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Aged 50-90 years old. No musculoskeletal or peripheral or central nervous system disorders (other than idiopathic Parkinson disease (iPD) or parkinsonism) that could significantly affect balance or gait .

Capable of following directions. iPD subjects: UK Brain Bank criteria, i.e., bradykinesia and at least one of the following: rest tremor, muscular rigidity, and postural instability not cause by visual, vestibular, cerebellar or proprioceptive dysfunction. Unilateral onset, response to levodopa.

Parkinsonism subjects: Gait characterized by slow short steps, shuffling gait and may be wide-based, with FoG, postural instability.

Exclusion Criteria

Inability to stand or walk for 2 min without an assistive device Recent changes in medication Excessive use of alcohol or recreational drugs, Contraindications to MRI scans (eg, claustrophobia, metal in body) Intervention subjects will be excluded if: 1) participating in a vigorous exercise program more than 2 x/week, 2) A medical condition that contraindicates exercise participation.

Parkinsonism subjects: iPD and Parkinson plus syndromes such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Syndrome, or Cerebellar Ataxia.

Idiopathic PD subjects: Same as above and deep brain stimulation electrodes. Significant tremor that would interfere withMRI scan.

Control subjects: Will be matched for age and gender to iPD and parkinsonism groups.

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Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes