Memory problems and seeing things in Parkinson's disease
Visual hallucinations and memory impairment in Parkinson's Disease: The role of hippocampal networks
['FUNDING_R01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11135442
This project looks at whether changes in the hippocampus explain memory loss and visual hallucinations in people with Parkinson's disease by following them over time with tests and brain scans.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135442 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you would complete detailed memory and thinking tests and have high-resolution brain imaging focused on the hippocampus, with visits repeated over several years. Researchers will look at activity in specific hippocampal subregions to see if higher activity predicts worsening thinking or more hallucinations. The work combines careful clinical exams, cognitive testing, and advanced MRI scans to track changes over time. Findings aim to link brain changes to real-world memory problems and hallucinations in Parkinson's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, particularly those experiencing memory changes or visual hallucinations and who can undergo MRI and repeated visits, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's disease or those unable to have MRI scans or attend follow-up visits are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain signals that predict who will develop worse memory or hallucinations, enabling earlier monitoring or targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked hippocampal problems to memory loss and hallucinations, but applying high-resolution hippocampal subregion imaging longitudinally in Parkinson's is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BAKKER, ARNOLD — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BAKKER, ARNOLD
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 below.