Vestibular-related balance and walking problems in Parkinson's
Vestibulopathy, imbalance and gait disturbances in Parkinson disease
This project looks at whether age-related inner-ear (vestibular) problems make freezing of gait and balance worse in Veterans with Parkinson's and pilots a small portable nerve-modulation device that might help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173557 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited as a Veteran with Parkinson's to undergo detailed balance and walking tests and specialized vestibular exams to see if inner-ear loss is linked to freezing of gait. The team will scan dopamine nerve integrity using DAT PET imaging to put vestibular findings in the context of Parkinson's brain changes. Sixty-four Veterans will be enrolled in a cross-sectional comparison, and a smaller group who have both vestibular loss and freezing will be offered a short pilot trial of an in-home portable thermoneuromodulation (TNM) device. The goal is to learn whether vestibular problems are a common, treatable contributor to falls and freezing in Parkinson's.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Veterans with Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait and who may have signs of age-related vestibular impairment.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's, those who do not have freezing of gait, or those without vestibular impairment (and people who cannot undergo PET or the device intervention) are unlikely to benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new, non-drug rehabilitation approaches or an in-home device to reduce freezing and improve balance in people with Parkinson's.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work links vestibular loss to imbalance and vestibular rehab can help balance, but using portable thermoneuromodulation for freezing in Parkinson's is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bohnen, Nicolaas Ida — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Bohnen, Nicolaas Ida
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.