White Matter Pathology in Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Status: Unknown

Conditions: White Matter Lesions; Postural Instability Gait Disorders

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01039831

0595-09-TLV

Details and patient eligibility

About

The relationship between WM lesions (WM) and Postural Instability Gait Disorders (PIGD-PD)in Parkinson's disease patients is largely unknown. We hypothesize that sub-clinical WM pathology may be a major contributing factor to PIGD-PD. We will compare two groups of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD): those with PIGD and patients with dominant tremor (n=120)to assess the role of brain WM changes.

Full description

To compare brain WM burden using MRI in PD patients with and without PIGD. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis techniques will be applied.We will quantify PIGD-related symptoms including cognitive function, balance and gait and their associations with MRI findings.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Diagnosis of idiopathic PD, as defined by the UK Brain Bank criteria
2. Age between 50 and 80 years
3. Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III
4. On anti-parkinsonian medications
5. Mini-Mental State Exam score ≥ 25

Exclusion criteria

1. Brain surgery in the past including implanted Deep Brain Stimulation
2. Clinically significant co-morbidities likely to affect gait e.g., acute illness, significant rheumatic, orthopedic disease, dementia, or major depression
3. Unable to walk independently
4. Inability to comply with the protocol

Trial design

120 participants in 1 patient group

Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Description:

Consecutive patient sampling