Parkinson's
- Published: 13 March 2020
- 4 min read
A phase III trial of Rivastigmine to prevent falls in Parkinson's Disease
Addressing priority 1: NIHR research in progress to determine whether a drug, known as a cholinesterase inhibitor, can prevent falls in Parkinson's. The effect of these drugs on falls in Parkinson's has been tested in 3 small trials showing that treatment has the potential to reduce the number of falls and this study will provide better evidence for this.
Taking positive steps to prevent falls
Addressing priority 1: This Parkinson's UK-funded study aimed to shed new light on the complex relationship between physical activity and falls in Parkinson’s, hoping that this new knowledge will empower people with the condition to manage their condition more effectively and reduce their risk of falling.
Mindfulness to tackle anxiety and depression
Addressing priority 2: In this Parkinson’s UK-funded study, the team has tested a mindfulness course to assess how helpful it is.
Reducing anxiety in Parkinson's
Addressing priority 2: In this project, the team hopes to test the reason behind anxiety in Parkinson’s and a technique to reduce anxiety using simple online exercises.
Exploring anxiety in Parkinson’s
Addressing priority 2: Researchers investigated whether anxiety in Parkinson’s is similar to anxiety in people without the condition and then tested whether this anxiety could be reduced with a simple computer training task in this Parkinson’s UK-funded study.
A combined therapy for dyskinesia
Addressing priority 3: In another Parkinson’s UK-funded study, a team looked at what makes nerve cells become overactive when taking Levodopa, resulting in uncontrollable movements.
Evaluation of nicotine to remediate dyskinesias and cognitive deficits associated with Parkinson’s Disease
Predict Parkinson’s
Addressing priorities 4 and 7: At the end of the project, this research team hopes to be able to accurately calculate risk based on a number of factors and be able to predict people who will develop Parkinson’s in the future.
Understanding and predicting Parkinson’s progression
Addressing priority 4 and 7: This research team is interested in finding out how people’s genetic makeup may influence the progression of Parkinson’s.
Towards treatments for Parkinson’s dementia
Addressing priority 5: In this Parkinson’s UK-funded study the team worked to further understand the changes that happen in the brain if people with Parkinson’s go on to develop dementia so that new treatments may be developed in future.
Developing a simple test for Parkinson’s dementia
Addressing priority 5: This Parkinson’s UK-funded study aimed to find biomarkers that predict the risk of a person with Parkinson’s developing dementia.
Understanding how genes are involved in dementia with Lewy bodies
Addressing priority 5: Researchers are looking at the gene activity in different parts of the brain in people affected by dementia with Lewy bodies and with Parkinson’s. They will then compare gene activity levels to those found in healthy people to understand the differences in this Parkinson’s UK-funded study.
Predicting dementia in people with Parkinson’s
Addressing priorities 5 and 6: The main goal of this is to better understand the early signs of dementia in people with Parkinson’s.
Learning new movements with rewards
Addressing priority 6: This Parkinson’s UK-funded project looked for ways to improve the long term benefits of therapies where people with Parkinson’s learn new movements.
Studying early brain changes in Parkinson’s
Addressing priority 6: The team is studying people with REM sleep behaviour disorder, who are at high risk of developing Parkinson’s, to identify areas of the brain affected early on.
The New Monument Discovery Award
Addressing priority 7: This research grant given by Parkinson’s UK brings together a world-class team of researchers to better understand Parkinson’s.
A clinical trial of the probiotic Symprove
Addressing priority 9: Symprove is an oral probiotic that can reach the lower gut and has been seen to improve symptoms in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. The research team has some evidence that Symprove may be able to reduce motor and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s. Now they want to test its potential.
Improving Parkinson’s Related Overactive Bladder
Addressing priority 10: Urinary problems are one of the top research priorities for improving quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. This project is looking to test a new bladder training programme for people with Parkinson’s in a pilot study.
Exploring a new treatment for bladder problems
Addressing priority 10: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation involves using a device to deliver small electrical impulses to the skin. This approach is sometimes used to address pain but has not been used to treat bladder problems before. This project will test if the treatment can improve bladder symptoms in people with Parkinson’s.
Using analogies to overcome freezing of gait
Identifying delirium in people with Parkinson's
Addressing priority 20: Delirium is difficult to diagnose in people with Parkinson’s. This is because it has similar symptoms to Parkinson’s and dementia – such as confusion, hallucinations and sleep disturbances. But people will often make a full recovery from delirium if it is recognised and treated early enough. The findings from this study will be used to help develop and evaluate a new tool to identify delirium in people with Parkinson’s, so that it can be treated better. This project will investigate delirium in people with Parkinson’s admitted to hospital, which could help better identify and treat the condition.
Understanding the causes of pain in Parkinson’s
Addressing priority 23: More than half of all people with Parkinson’s experience chronic pain. This Parkinson’s UK-funded study aimed to increase our understanding of this symptom.
Solution for swallowing problems in Parkinson’s
Addressing priority 24:This project looked at three different techniques for treating swallowing problems in this Parkinson’s UK-funded study.
Get it on time: What’s the evidence
Addressing priority 25: This Parkinson’s UK-funded research aimed to find out if people with Parkinson’s will recover more quickly and spend less time in hospital if they are given their medication on time.