Clinical Research Directory

Adaptive DBS for PD

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) system for managing Parkinson's disease symptoms. Researchers will compare closed-loop stimulation (which automatically adjusts therapy using real-time brain signals and sleep monitoring) against traditional continuous stimulation (fixed settings) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Participants will undergo surgical implantation of PINS Medical's G1010R neurostimulator, followed by alternating treatment phases where each patient experiences both aDBS and conventional open-loop stimulation modes. Outcomes will assess improvements in without troublesome dyskinesia daily time, motor symptoms (e.g., tremors, rigidity), quality of life, and sleep quality across both therapy periods.

Rhythm Psychophysics With Parkinson's Patients

The goal of this interventional study is to understand how the rhythmic abilities of individuals in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease (PD) are impacted by their levels of dopamine. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does dopamine shelter the ability to generate and maintain a regular tapping rhythm in the presence of disrupting sensory information? * Does dopamine allow the adaptation of tapping speed in the presence of changing sensory information? * Is the engagement of the motor system useful to improve the detection of changes in the tempo of sensory information? Participants will be asked to perform a battery of simple rhythmic tasks On and Off medication to evaluate the effect of dopamine on their rhythmic skills.

Eye Gaze Strategies During Facial Emotion Recognition in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Links With Neuropsychiatric Disorders (EYE-ToM Study)

It is commonly admitted that social cognition impairment, like deficit in facial emotion recognition or misinterpretation of others' intentions (Theory of Mind), are associated with social behavior disorders. This kind of disorders are observed in Fronto-Temporal Dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), with severe deficits in FTD and lighter deficits in AD and PD. One explanation might be that patients apply inappropriate visual exploration strategies to decode emotions and intentions of others. This study aims to test this hypothesis and further to analyse whether different patterns emerge from these pathologies.

Objective Mobility Assessment Using Wearable Technology for Clinical Application in Parkinson's Disease: From Validation to Fall Prediction

The main objective of this observational trial is to explore the validity and reliability of DANU smart socks when used for mobility assessments in people with Parkinson's. Using a series of laboratory gold standard equipment, this project aims to compare the metrics observed by DANU to the reference standards. No intervention is included. Specifically, this study will explore metrics relating to walking (gait) and balance of a Parkinson's cohort through a series of motor tasks. Moreover, this study seeks to investigate the clinical validity of DANU outcome metrics exploring relationships with clinical scales, fall history and prospective falls.

Empathy and (Self-)Compassion in Parkinson's Disease Patients and Caregivers

The goal of this clinical trial is to improve quality of life in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients by increasing their empathy and their (self-)compassion. The main question it aims to answer is: Does the level of quality of life in PD patients and caregivers improve after empathy/(self-)compassion training? Participants will be delivered a 6-week empathy and compassion training (mindfulness, writing and poetry exercises addressing the cognitive, emotional, motivational and behavioural components of (self-)compassion) and will also be asked to answer questionnaires before and after the training

AR Stimulation Effects on Gait, Anxiety, and Brain Connectivity in Parkinson's Disease

A project aims at addressing gait impairments and non-motor symptoms such as anxiety and stress in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients through a novel approach involving heart rate variability (HRV) feedback and Augmented Reality (AR) training. The project is based on the premise that improving HRV, which reflects the adaptability of the autonomic nervous system, can enhance both motor functions like gait and non-motor symptoms.