Home monitoring for Parkinson's disease using speech and activity tracking
Official title: Remote Monitoring Using Commercially Available Activity Trackers and Computer Vision Provides a Holistic, Low-cost Assessment of Parkinson's Disease Symptoms
Run by University of Iowa · NCT06573762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if tracking speech and activity at home with wearable devices can help understand changes in people who are newly referred for Parkinson's evaluation or recently diagnosed with the disease.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years to 110 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Iowa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Iowa City, Iowa) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 7, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | April 10, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06573762 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include individuals newly referred to the Movement Disorders clinic or those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease within the last six months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease for more than six months or those who are confined to a wheelchair or bed may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of automated analysis of speech and physical activity, monitored through wearable devices and smartphone video, to identify impairments associated with Parkinson's disease. Participants will be divided into two groups: those newly referred for evaluation and those recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. They will undergo a series of assessments, including motor and cognitive evaluations, and will wear an activity tracker at home for four weeks. Follow-up assessments will include video and audio recordings to track changes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the ability to monitor and predict the progression of Parkinson's disease, leading to better management of the condition.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using home-based monitoring for Parkinson's disease is gaining interest, this specific methodology combining speech and activity tracking is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Group 1: People newly referred with possible Parkinson's disease Inclusion Criteria 1\. Newly referred to UIHC Movement Disorders Clinic Exclusion Criteria 1. Prior diagnosis of Parkinson's disease 2. Confined to wheelchair or bed 3. Non-English speaking 4. Prisoner status 5. Inability to provide own informed consent 6. Phone unable to support the Fitbit app Group 2: People with a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease Inclusion Criteria 1. Patient of UIHC Movement Disorders Clinic 2. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease Exclusion Criteria 1. First diagnosed \> 6 months ago 2. Confined to wheelchair or bed 3. Non-English speaking 4. Prisoner status 5. Inability to provide own informed consent 6. Phone unable to support the Fitbit app
Where it's running
-
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jacob Simmering, PhD — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Jacob Simmering, MS, PHD, BA
- Email: jacob-simmering@uiowa.edu
- Phone: 3196788037
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
One-day exercise test to see how brain and body react in epilepsy, cognitive disorders, Parkinson's, dementia, and related conditions
A one-day study tests how an acute bout of exercise changes brain function and bodily signals in people with certain neurological conditions compared with healthy individuals.
-
Tributyrin for PSP: a virtual, early-phase study
This study tests whether tributyrin is safe and tolerable in people with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy who are 45 or older, using virtual visits.
-
A look at why Lewy body conditions cause visual hallucinations
This study tests brain‑imaging in people with Lewy body diseases who do or don’t experience visual hallucinations, and in healthy volunteers, to see how brain networks might create these images.
-
How physical activity might help people with Parkinson’s disease who have DBS-STN implants
This study tests whether adding regular physical activity can help people with Parkinson’s who have DBS-STN stimulation by trying a structured physiotherapy approach alongside standard care.
-
Can hippotherapy improve mobility, gait, balance, and quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease?
This pilot trial tests whether adding horse-assisted therapy to standard rehab helps mobility, gait, balance, and perceived health in adults with Parkinson's disease.
-
Gut methane and Parkinson's: measuring if a probiotic helps people with Parkinson's, REM sleep behavior disorder, or cognitive concerns
This study tests whether a probiotic containing Limosilactobacillus reuteri can help people with Parkinson's disease, those at high risk for PD, and related cognitive issues by potentially improving gut methane levels and overall symptoms.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.