Understanding how speech changes in Parkinson's disease
Official title: Comprehensive assessment of speech physiology and acoustics in Parkinson's disease progression
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11010337 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the way you speak changes with Parkinson's disease and how that affects your communication experience, so we can find out what really matters to you and help doctors choose the best treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 2, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $682,329 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020867-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010337 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who experience speech difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not have speech problems may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between speech physiology and patient-centered outcomes in individuals with Parkinson's disease. By examining how changes in speech mechanisms affect communication quality, the study aims to identify which physiological aspects are most relevant to patients' experiences. The approach includes a comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of speech, physiology, and acoustics in a large sample of participants, allowing for a better understanding of the factors that influence speech intelligibility and naturalness. The findings could help clinicians prioritize effective therapies based on what matters most to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved speech therapy strategies that enhance communication quality for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding speech changes in neurological conditions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stepp, Cara E. — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Stepp, Cara E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Tracking breathing, voice, and speech changes in Parkinson's disease
This project follows people with Parkinson's and links changes in breathing, voice, and mouth movements to everyday speech and communication problems.
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How speech listening and learning affect speaking in Parkinson's
This project looks at whether people with Parkinson's who have trouble learning speech sounds also have related difficulties changing how they speak.
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How speech perception affects speech production in Parkinson's disease
This study is looking at how people with Parkinson's disease hear and produce speech to find out why some have a harder time speaking after therapy, with the goal of creating better, personalized help for them.
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Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
A plant-wide supplement to an NIH program will enroll people with Parkinson’s, with and without GI symptoms, plus healthy controls, to study how gut function, brain signals, and sleep rhythms relate to Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
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.
-
Gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s disease for better symptoms and daily life
This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
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.