Improving swallowing and cough safety in Parkinson's with in-person or telehealth therapy
Official title: Rehabilitation of Airway Protection in Parkinson's Disease: Comparing In-Person and Telehealth Service Delivery Models
Funded at Columbia University Teachers College · NIH-11141210 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares in-person versus telehealth delivery of expiratory muscle strength and cough skill training to help people with Parkinson's improve swallowing and cough safety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Teachers College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $601,573 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126319-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141210 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson's who have swallowing or cough problems, can follow simple instructions, and either can travel to New York for in-person visits or have reliable internet for telehealth are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without swallowing or cough difficulties, those with severe cognitive impairment who cannot perform the exercises, or those lacking the needed travel ability or technology may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would take part in a rehabilitation program that combines exercises to strengthen the breathing muscles with training to improve cough and swallowing. Participants are assigned to receive the same program either in-person at the clinic or remotely by telehealth and will practice regularly with therapist guidance. The team will measure swallowing tests, cough strength, and patient-reported quality of life over several months to compare outcomes. The aim is to find out whether remote care works as well as in-person care so more people can access effective treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, telehealth could be shown to work as well as in-person therapy, expanding access to care and helping reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia in people with Parkinson's.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show expiratory muscle strength training and cough training can improve airway protection in Parkinson's and can be delivered by telehealth, but a direct comparison proving telehealth is not worse than in-person care has not been established.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Teachers College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Troche, Michelle S — Columbia University Teachers College
- Study coordinator: Troche, Michelle S
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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.