Testing Objective Measures of Motor Impairment in Early Parkinson's Disease

Detailed Summary

This study will test the accuracy of a new home-use electronic device that measures and records small changes in Parkinson's disease symptoms, such as tremor and impaired movement and speech. The testing is done at home and the results are sent by Internet to the patient's doctor. Detecting Parkinson's disease in its early stages may permit doctors to provide early treatment and slow the rate of disease progression. Patients with early Parkinson's disease (less than 5 years) with rest tremors and bradykinesia (slowness and difficulty of movement) who are not taking medications for the disease may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with training and practice in using the home monitoring device over 2-3 weeks. Those who demonstrate proficiency with the device may be enrolled in the study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Baseline Visit Participants' undergo symptoms ratings using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and assessments of memory, thinking and depression. At-home testing Participants begin at-home testing with the monitoring device after the baseline visit and repeat the tests weekly for 6 months. The test information is automatically uploaded to a home computer (provided by the study) and sent to the investigators via Internet. The test procedure is as follows: * Introduction questionnaire (1 minute): Participants are questioned about how they are feeling at test time. * Pegboard test (4 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant moves eight pegs from the right to the left using their right and then left hand. * Tapping test (3 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant alternately presses two buttons with the right index finger and then the left index finger. * Reaction time/movement time testing (3 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant moves his or her index finger from one button to the other, first with the right hand and then with the left hand. * Digitography testing (4 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant alternates between pressing two keys with the index and middle fingers. * Speech + Actiwatch tremor data upload (7 minutes): The participant: 1) takes a deep breath and says "ahhh" for as long as possible; 2) is shown a picture and, at the sound of a tone, is asked to tell a story about the picture; 3) uploads the tremor data from the Actiwatch (a device worn on the wrist that records tremors). * At specified times du...

Study Details

Timeline