Improving balance responses in people with Parkinson's disease
Official title: Motor learning of protective responses to balance perturbations in persons with Parkinson's Disease
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-10862785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with Parkinson's disease can improve their balance and reduce falls by trying out different practice methods, so they can learn to respond better when they lose their balance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $42,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R36AG080272-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10862785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who experience balance issues and are at risk of falling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not have significant balance problems or those who are unable to participate in physical training may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with Parkinson's disease can learn to better respond to balance challenges, which is crucial since many experience frequent falls. The study focuses on different practice schedules to see which method helps patients acquire and retain protective balance responses more effectively. By using treadmill perturbations, the research aims to identify the best training strategies that can enhance motor skills and improve overall safety for patients. The findings could lead to more effective rehabilitation techniques tailored specifically for those with Parkinson's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of falls and related injuries in patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that balance training can be effective in older adults, but this specific approach for Parkinson's disease is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Akinlosotu, Ruth Yetunde — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Akinlosotu, Ruth Yetunde
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neuromechanical balance in Parkinson’s disease: how the brain controls posture
Researchers at Emory are studying how brain activity relates to balance problems in people with Parkinson’s disease to help develop personalized ways to prevent falls.
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Brain activity linked to balance problems in Parkinson's disease
This project records brain waves and balance responses to uncover brain signals tied to balance problems and falls in people with Parkinson's disease.
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Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
A plant-wide supplement to an NIH program will enroll people with Parkinson’s, with and without GI symptoms, plus healthy controls, to study how gut function, brain signals, and sleep rhythms relate to Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
A Mayo Clinic team is studying how gut problems, environmental factors, and genetics together influence Parkinson’s disease and its GI symptoms to find biomarkers and better understanding of the disease.
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Gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s disease for better symptoms and daily life
This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.