Neuromechanical balance in Parkinson’s disease: how the brain controls posture
Official title: Neuromechanical modeling of postural responses: Cortical mechanisms of balance impairments in Parkinson's disease
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11394495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2004 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $637,313 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD046922-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with Parkinson’s disease who experience balance impairments or prior falls and can stand unaided for testing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Parkinson’s disease or with severe mobility limitations that prevent standing tasks may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project analyzes how cortical brain activity during standing and small perturbations relates to perceptual, cognitive, and muscle responses that affect balance in Parkinson’s disease. Using high-density EEG and advanced imaging, the study looks for brain signals that mark balance problems and fall history. The team will test how non-motor and motor symptoms interact to disrupt mobility, with a focus on identifying biomarkers that reflect neural circuit dysfunction. The goal is to translate these insights into mechanisms that can guide personalized balance therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to brain-based biomarkers and tailored balance interventions to reduce falls in Parkinson’s patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows robust cortical activity linked to balance, suggesting this approach could reveal meaningful biomarkers and targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ting, Lena H — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Ting, Lena H
Related research
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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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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.