Understanding how people with Parkinson's communicate in everyday life
Official title: A causal framework of communicative participation in people with Parkinson's disease.
Funded at Utah State University · NIH-11330569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how Parkinson's affects real conversations and participation in daily life, and what might help improve communication for those living with the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Logan, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $456,544 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020713-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330569 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson's disease who experience restricted communicative participation and are able to engage in conversational tasks.
✕Less likely to help
People without PD or those unable to participate in conversational dyads may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
People with Parkinson's often struggle to participate in ordinary conversations and social interactions, which can impact their well-being. The project builds on prior work using speech and dialogue analysis to identify patterns in PD-related communication and tests how these patterns relate to participation. By studying dyadic conversations and using advanced signal processing, researchers aim to pinpoint targets for behavioral strategies to improve everyday communication. The goal is to translate these findings into practical approaches that clinicians and patients can use to maintain social connection and access to services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to behavioral strategies that help people with Parkinson's participate more fully in daily conversations and activities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown distinct communication patterns in PD that relate to participation, supporting further exploration of targeted interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State University
Logan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borrie, Stephanie Anna — Utah State University
- Study coordinator: Borrie, Stephanie Anna
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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.