Wearable device to prevent freezing of gait in Parkinson's
Official title: A Novel Instrument to Address Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Patients
Funded at Barron Associates, INC. · NIH-11194250 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds a small wearable that detects freezing of gait in people with Parkinson's and provides personalized cues to help them start walking again.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Barron Associates, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,173,858 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG074825-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194250 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21+) with Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait and can wear a small device on glasses or a cap are the intended candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose freezing is already well controlled by medications or surgery, those with severe cognitive impairment who cannot use the device, or those unable to wear glasses or a cap may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would wear a tiny ParkinSense device on your glasses or under a cap that continuously senses your head and body movement. The device uses onboard motion sensors and algorithms to spot freezing episodes and then delivers an auditory, visual, or tactile cue designed to help you resume walking. Each device is calibrated to the individual because different cues work better for different people and situations. The team plans hands-on fitting and testing with adults who have Parkinson's to refine detection and cueing performance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could reduce freezing episodes, improve mobility and independence, and lower the risk of falls.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that external cues often help people with FOG but results are mixed, and automatic, personalized detection-plus-cueing like this is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Barron Associates, INC.
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Brian R — Barron Associates, INC.
- Study coordinator: Clark, Brian R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized closed-loop treatment for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease
A new implantable brain device trial aims to reduce freezing of gait in people with Parkinson’s by using on-device brain signals to guide stimulation in real time.
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Imaging clues to how deep brain stimulation helps freezing of gait in Parkinson’s
This study uses brain imaging to understand why deep brain stimulation helps or doesn’t help freezing of gait in people with Parkinson’s disease.
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Understanding movement transitions in Parkinson's disease and how cues help freezing of gait
A study with people who have Parkinson's disease will explore why freezing of gait happens during movement changes and how external cues might help keep steps going.
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Feasibility of an AI-Driven Gait Freeze Detector to Trigger Pauses and Cues in Parkinson’s
A small study tests an AI system that detects when a person with Parkinson’s is about to freeze and gives a cue only at that moment to help them keep walking.
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Why walking suddenly stops in Parkinson's — brain recordings with virtual reality
Using brain sensors, EEG, motion capture, and a virtual-reality walking setup, researchers will look for specific brain signals when people with Parkinson's disease suddenly freeze while walking.
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Why walking starts and turns can trigger freezing in Parkinson's
This project looks at brain and balance signals in people with Parkinson's who freeze when they start walking or turn, and how external cues can help.
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.