Studying Automatic Movements in Patients With Parkinson's Disease
Summary
Parkinson's disease patients usually have difficulty making automatic movements. Automatic movements are movements people often make without conscious thought.
The purpose of this study is to investigate regions of the brain that affect automatic movements and to understand the movements of Parkinson's patients. Investigators hope this knowledge will lead to better treatment for the disease.
Thirty participants will be enrolled in this study. Each will give a medical history and undergo a brief physical exam. Participants will have two MRI scans, each lasting approximately 1.5 hours. During these scans, they may be asked to move their right or left hands or to remember some letters that they have been shown. Before undergoing the second scan, participants will be asked to practice the tasks until they can perform them correctly.
Description
Patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) are deficient in making automatic movements. The underlying neural correlates of the problem are not understood. In the present study, to investigate the brain activity contributing to this disorder, we will use specially designed dual-task paradigm and the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Thirty patients with PD will be asked to perform sequential finger-tapping movement with the right hand; results will be analyzed from 20 patients who achieve automaticity as defined in the study. In addition, we will use a dual-task paradigm to evaluate automaticity by having subjects perform either a distraction task (involving visual memory) or an interference task (tapping with the left hand) simultaneously with the sequential movements. Patients will practice to achieve automaticity. fMRI will be obtained before and after achieving automaticity. By analyzing fMRI results, we will explore the brain regions associated with deficiency of automatic movements in PD patients.
Study Design
N/A
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Location
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Bethesda
Maryland
United States
20892
Status
Completed
Source
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00063661
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Published on BioPortfolio: 2014-08-27T03:55:07-0400
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Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Parkinson Disease Associated Proteins
Proteins associated with sporadic or familial cases of PARKINSON DISEASE.
Mptp Poisoning
A condition caused by the neurotoxin MPTP which causes selective destruction of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Clinical features include irreversible parkinsonian signs including rigidity and bradykinesia (PARKINSON DISEASE, SECONDARY). MPTP toxicity is also used as an animal model for the study of PARKINSON DISEASE. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1072; Neurology 1986 Feb;36(2):250-8)
Parkinsonian Disorders
A group of disorders which feature impaired motor control characterized by bradykinesia, MUSCLE RIGIDITY; TREMOR; and postural instability. Parkinsonian diseases are generally divided into primary parkinsonism (see PARKINSON DISEASE), secondary parkinsonism (see PARKINSON DISEASE, SECONDARY) and inherited forms. These conditions are associated with dysfunction of dopaminergic or closely related motor integration neuronal pathways in the BASAL GANGLIA.
Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic
Parkinsonism following encephalitis, historically seen as a sequella of encephalitis lethargica (Von Economo Encephalitis). The early age of onset, the rapid progression of symptoms followed by stabilization, and the presence of a variety of other neurological disorders (e.g., sociopathic behavior; TICS; MUSCLE SPASMS; oculogyric crises; hyperphagia; and bizarre movements) distinguish this condition from primary PARKINSON DISEASE. Pathologic features include neuronal loss and gliosis concentrated in the MESENCEPHALON; SUBTHALAMUS; and HYPOTHALAMUS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p754)
Parkinson Disease, Secondary
Conditions which feature clinical manifestations resembling primary Parkinson disease that are caused by a known or suspected condition. Examples include parkinsonism caused by vascular injury, drugs, trauma, toxin exposure, neoplasms, infections and degenerative or hereditary conditions. Clinical features may include bradykinesia, rigidity, parkinsonian gait, and masked facies. In general, tremor is less prominent in secondary parkinsonism than in the primary form. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1998, Ch38, pp39-42)
