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Dance Aerobics for Parkinson's Disease (PDAE in PD Trial)

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Madeleine E. Hackney, PhD

Research Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Fluent in English to comprehend and participate

Able to walk with or without an assistive device at least 10 feet

Must not have

Alcohol abuse and/or use of antipsychotics

History of stroke, or traumatic brain injury

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 16 months

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will show if PDAE protects brain cells in people with PD.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for people over 40 with Parkinson's Disease who can walk at least 10 feet, have mild cognitive impairment or better, and experience 'OFF-time' when their medication isn't effective. They must see benefits from Parkinson's medications and speak English well. Excluded are those with major depression, brain injuries, severe hearing loss, past PDAE/WAE class attendance, alcohol abuse, plans to move away soon, MRI contraindications like claustrophobia or metal implants.

What is being tested?

The study tests whether Partnered Dance Aerobic Exercise (PDAE) can protect the brain and improve movement and thinking in Parkinson’s patients compared to Walking Aerobic Exercise (WAE). It looks at how these exercises affect 'OFF-time', cognition by using a special brain scan called an MRI to measure changes in brain activity related to exercise.

What are the potential side effects?

While specific side effects aren't listed for this type of physical therapy intervention, general risks may include muscle soreness or strain from exercise. The MRI procedure might be uncomfortable for some due to the confined space.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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I am fluent in English and can understand and participate fully.

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I can walk at least 10 feet, with or without help like a cane.

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I am over 40 years old.

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My Parkinson's symptoms improve with medication.

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My Parkinson's disease is in the early to mid-stage.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I do not abuse alcohol or use antipsychotics.

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I have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury in the past.

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I have not been treated for major depression or any serious mental illness.

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I do not have major health issues like kidney failure or heavy alcohol use that would stop me from joining an exercise program.

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I do not have severe heart problems like heart failure, aortic stenosis, or uncontrolled chest pain.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 16 months

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~16 months

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 16 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Corsi Blocks product score

Movement disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part IV total score

rate of change in iron accumulation in the substantia nigra pars compacta

Secondary study objectives

6 minute walk test (number of meters walked in 6 minutes)

Benton's judgment of line orientation task

Executive function: Tower Of London achievement score

+6 more

Other study objectives

Beck depression inventory score

Dynamic Gait index

Four Square Step Test (time to complete)

+12 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Partnered Dance Aerobic ExerciseExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Partnered Dance-Aerobic Exercise (PDAE) is an adapted form of Argentine tango, aka Adapted tango. Participants with PD will dance the follower role only and will dance with new partners (individuals without PD) every 15-20 minutes, a widely practiced method considered by the dance teaching community to enhance learning. Participants will engage in partnering exercises on how to interpret motor goals through touch, exercises to develop understanding of temporal relationship of movement to music, novel step introduction, connecting previously learned and novel step elements. Frequent repetition and musical stereotypes may foster implicit learning or muscle memory (i.e., motor learning, or procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition). Participants will not be required to memorize specific step patterns but will learn new steps in each class

Group II: Walking Aerobic ExerciseActive Control1 Intervention

Walking Aerobic Exercise (WAE) Participants in WAE will receive equivalent dose, volume, frequency, intensity and duration of exercise to the PDAE group. The investigators will receive equal contact and monitoring from study staff. WAE participants will report to the same facility and interact with the same interventionist and assistants. The investigators will participate in sessions focused on at least 60 minutes of walking with breaks ad libitum, and 1/2 hour balance and stretching. The investigators have a designated, safe and non-cluttered area for walking. WAE will also take place in groups, with research volunteers and assistants to ensure that PDAE and WAE participants both receive a socially engaging intervention.

0 / 10Eligibility criteria met