Improving walking ability for people with Parkinson's disease
Official title: Targeted Motor Learning to Improve Gait for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10834271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using rhythmic sounds can help people with Parkinson's disease walk better by teaching them new walking patterns in a fun and effective way.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $187,510 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD111833-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10834271 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and experience gait disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Parkinson's disease or those with severe cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing walking function in individuals with Parkinson's disease by addressing the challenges of motor learning. It employs rhythmic auditory cues to help patients recalibrate their walking patterns, which can be hindered by the disease. The approach combines explicit learning strategies with implicit learning mechanisms to improve long-term retention of walking skills. By introducing a subtle error in the tempo of cues, the study aims to promote better adaptation and learning in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved walking abilities and greater independence for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that rhythmic auditory cueing can be effective in improving gait in Parkinson's patients, but this approach aims to enhance those results through novel learning mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewek, Michael D — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Lewek, Michael D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized closed-loop treatment for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
A new implantable brain device trial aims to reduce freezing of gait in people with Parkinson’s by using on-device brain signals to guide stimulation in real time.
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Understanding movement transitions in Parkinson's disease and how cues help freezing of gait
A study with people who have Parkinson's disease will explore why freezing of gait happens during movement changes and how external cues might help keep steps going.
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Feasibility of an AI-Driven Gait Freeze Detector to Trigger Pauses and Cues in Parkinson’s
A small study tests an AI system that detects when a person with Parkinson’s is about to freeze and gives a cue only at that moment to help them keep walking.
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Stimulation of the vagus nerve to help gait in Veterans with Parkinson’s disease
A non-invasive, home-based treatment using a handheld device to stimulate the vagus nerve may improve walking and balance for Veterans living with Parkinson’s disease.
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How Parkinson's affects walking and brain signals
This project looks at how Parkinson's and levodopa change brain activity during walking and whether cueing helps people walk more automatically.
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Why walking starts and turns can trigger freezing in Parkinson's
This project looks at brain and balance signals in people with Parkinson's who freeze when they start walking or turn, and how external cues can help.
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.