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Contact Information:

Yasmin Godhania 0116 373 6039
RGOsponsor@leicester.ac.uk


Study Location:

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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Brain Training to Improve Balance in Parkinson's Disease

Brain Training to Improve Balance in Parkinson's Disease

Recruiting

Open to: ALL

Age: All

Medical Conditions

Parkinson Disease


This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


People living with Parkinson's (PwP) rank balance problems amongst the most disabling symptom. Over time, balance function continues to decline and PwP go on to fall, affecting between 45-68% of PwP. Falling directly impacts upon the individuals' quality of life (QoL), as it prevents patients from doing everyday activities, and places PwP at greater risk of other medical problems, such as fractures.

New treatments are urgently needed to improve balance and reduce falls in order to improve QoL for PwP. The aim of this project is to achieve these goals by using exercise to alter brain activity. Supporting our idea, are previous studies that show both exercise alone as well as changing brain activity at rest via visual feedback (similar to how breathing can be controlled to lower blood pressure), can be used to rehabilitate balance. Here researchers test the idea that better results can be achieved for PwP, if a specific exercise program is used as the feedback to change brain activity.

PwP will be assigned randomly into 2 groups, one receiving the exergaming physical therapy (PT) alone with a placebo feedback and, the second group will be required to change brain activity using exercise feedback to change brain activity.

Each intervention will be performed 3 times/week with each session lasting 1⁄2 an hour, for 12 consecutive weeks. Participants are expected to attend 5 sessions over each fortnight. Assessments of balance will be made before and after all three treatments. This will allow us to measure any improvements and compare the 2 different methods to see which one improves balance the most in PwP.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

Aug 2023 Jun 2026

INTERVENTIONAL

Intervention Type : BEHAVIORAL
Intervention Description : Electroencephalography (EEG) is a device that measures the electrical activity of the brain (brain waves). There are several frequencies of brain waves when we are awake; alpha (medium), beta (fast), and theta (slow). Alpha frequencies of brain activity are linked to maintaining balance, with more alpha activity being associated with poorer balance. EEG neurofeedback treatment involves placing electrodes on a person's head to monitor and change brain activity by giving cued audio or visual feedback. It has been used in PwP to show improvements in balance and walking. Other preliminary research in PwP has shown that exercise can also improve balance.

Intervention Arm Group : Exergame & Neurofeedback;

Intervention Type : BEHAVIORAL
Intervention Description : The exergame, delivered in virtual reality, involves travelling down a road (to give optic flow) whilst dodging balls that move towards the participant by either shifting their body either to the left or right. They are also be instructed to stand still and catch stars that appear and these will be used to score points and are associated with a monetary reward, ensuring motivation.

This group will receive SHAM feedback.

Intervention Arm Group : Exergame & SHAM Feedback;



You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


This is in the inclusion criteria above


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • University of Leicester
    Leicester
    LE1 7RH


The study is sponsored by University of Leicester and is in collaboration with University of Exeter; University of Nottingham; University of Plymouth; European Bioinformatics Institute.





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Read full details for Trial ID: NCT05986643
Last updated 24 March 2025

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