Understanding action regulation in Parkinson's disease

Revealing the Action Regulation Mechanisms in the Human Brain

NA · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · NCT06489483

This study is trying to understand how people with Parkinson's disease can better control their movements when they are taking their medication.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (other)
Locations1 site (Dallas, Texas)
Trial IDNCT06489483 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to explore the mechanisms of action regulation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and how these can be improved through dopaminergic treatment. It focuses on the cognitive control aspects of behavior, particularly in relation to motor functions affected by PD. Participants will engage in behavioral experiments designed to assess their action regulation capabilities, specifically during 'on' periods when they respond positively to Levodopa medication. The study seeks to provide insights into the cognitive deficits associated with PD and their impact on daily life.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who respond to Levodopa and can participate in behavioral experiments.

Not a fit: Patients with secondary Parkinsonism, significant cognitive decline, or other central nervous system diseases may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved cognitive and motor function management strategies for patients with Parkinson's disease.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease, this specific focus on action regulation and its improvement through dopaminergic treatment is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
For Parkinson's Disease Patients:

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease by a movement disorder neurologist
* Levodopa responsive with clearly defined "on" periods, with at least 30% improvement in UPDRS III scores on vs off
* Willingness and ability to complete the behavioral experiments for up 3.5 hours
* No vision or hearing problems that impair ability to participate with the proposed tasks as assessed by the study investigators

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with history of secondary Parkinsonism, stroke, or progressive central nervous system disease other than Parkinson's Disease
* Patients with a disease or condition that prevents understanding or communication of informed consent, study demands, and testing protocol including cognitive decline, diagnosed forms of dementia, significant memory impairment (MoCA\<23), or hearing loss that prevents adequate communication with researcher

For Healthy subjects:

Inclusion Criteria:

* No history any diagnosed neurological disease(s), including movement disorders or cognitive decline
* No vision or hearing problems that impair ability to participate with the proposed tasks as assessed by the study investigators

Where this trial is running

Dallas, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Parkinson Disease, Levodopa medication, motor cortex, basal ganglia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.