Study of the Link Between Freezing of Gait and Oropharyngeal Freezing in Parkinson's Patients
NCT ID: NCT06713265
Last Updated: 2024-12-04
Study Results
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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RECRUITING
66 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2024-10-04
2025-11-30
Brief Summary
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Dysphagia can negatively affect patients' quality of life. It leads to difficulties during oral intake (food, liquids, and medications), weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, and limitations in social activities. Depression is frequently associated with reduced quality of life in Parkinson's patients with swallowing disorders. Moreover, aspiration pneumonia due to mis-swallowing is one of the primary reasons for hospitalization in Parkinson's patients, potentially leading to severe complications and, at times, death.
Oropharyngeal freezing, also called oral festination, is an involuntary, repetitive anteroposterior movement of the tongue against the soft palate performed before transferring the food bolus to the pharynx. This movement is also observed during multiple swallows. This phenomenon is more frequent in dysphagic Parkinson's patients, yet its impact on swallowing dynamics remains poorly understood. Oropharyngeal freezing has been observed in approximately 40% to 75% of Parkinson's patients during videofluoroscopic swallow studies, also known as swallowing pharyngography. Oropharyngeal freezing inhibits the initiation of swallowing, keeping the airway open and leading to tracheal aspiration of residues. Some fragments then slide into the valleculae and pyriform sinuses. Thus, oropharyngeal freezing exacerbates pharyngeal phase incoordination, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, addressing this swallowing disorder is essential.
Oropharyngeal freezing is intrinsically rhythmic. While limited studies have been conducted on the topic, they agree that gait freezing (difficulty initiating walking, stopping in response to obstacles, or circumventing them) and oropharyngeal freezing share common pathophysiological mechanisms. Gait freezing is not limited to deficits in the locomotor network but is part of a broader deficit affecting spatiotemporal coordination in various tasks, similar to oropharyngeal freezing.
It is, therefore, crucial to detect this oral phase swallowing disorder as early as possible, enabling tailored early intervention that helps patients maintain their swallowing abilities for as long as possible and prevents complications mentioned earlier. Since gait freezing is diagnosed much earlier and more systematically, it would be interesting to investigate whether there is a correlation between the presence of gait freezing and oropharyngeal freezing in these patients. This could guide patients with gait freezing toward early speech-language assessments to evaluate the presence of oropharyngeal freezing.
The objectives of the study are examine the prevalence of oropharyngeal freezing in Parkinson's patients. Based on the results obtained from the NFOG-Q (New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire), two groups will be formed: The first group will consist of patients exhibiting gait freezing. The second group will consist of patients without gait freezing. The secondary objectives of the study are examine the common characteristics between these two types of freezing (gait and oropharyngeal). To assess the sensitivity and reliability of the NFOG-Q in detecting oropharyngeal freezing.To determine the prevalence of oropharyngeal freezing based on the score obtained on the UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale). To analyze the link between patients' rhythmic abilities and the presence or absence of one or both types of freezing.
Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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COHORT
PROSPECTIVE
Study Groups
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With freezing of gait
During patient enrollment, the following assessments will be conducted:
* The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS);
* Timed Up \& Go (TUG) Test;
* New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q);
* BAASTA Battery;
* Clinical swallowing assessment. All assessments will be conducted during the patient's OFF phase.
At the end of the motor assessment (NFOG-Q and TUG), the patients will be divided into two groups: the first group will consist of patients exhibiting freezing of gait, while the second group will consist of those not presenting freezing. The procedure for the assessments will remain the same for both groups.
If, during the clinical speech therapy swallowing assessment, signs indicative of swallowing disorders are detected, the patient will be referred for a pharyngography to specify the nature of these disorders.
No interventions assigned to this group
Without freezing of gait
During patient enrollment, the following assessments will be conducted:
* The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS);
* Timed Up \& Go (TUG) Test;
* New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q);
* BAASTA Battery;
* Clinical swallowing assessment. All assessments will be conducted during the patient's OFF phase.
At the end of the motor assessment (NFOG-Q and TUG), the patients will be divided into two groups: the first group will consist of patients exhibiting freezing of gait, while the second group will consist of those not presenting freezing. The procedure for the assessments will remain the same for both groups.
If, during the clinical speech therapy swallowing assessment, signs indicative of swallowing disorders are detected, the patient will be referred for a pharyngography to specify the nature of these disorders.
No interventions assigned to this group
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Patient affiliated with the social security system;
* Patient aged over 18 years.
Exclusion Criteria
* Neurological history that could be the cause of a swallowing disorder (e.g., stroke) or a history of ENT cancer;
* Patient with a gastrostomy without oral intake;
* Pregnant women or those suspected of being pregnant;
* Minor patients
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Hopital La Musse
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Héloïse BAILLET, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Hôpital La Musse
Eric VERIN, PU-PH
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
CHU Rouen, GRHVN Laboratory
Locations
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Hôpital La Musse
Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent, , France
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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2024-A01781-46
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id