Predicting and preventing falls in those affected with Parkinson’s disease is the goal of new research being conducted in the school of biomechanics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Vivien Marmelat, a professor at UNO with a doctorate in human movement sciences, leads the research team that is looking specifically at the relationship between how people walk and how it influences falls in those with Parkinson’s. Those who have the disease are two to three times more likely to fall than people of a similar age without the disease.
“The ultimate goal is to understand how Parkinson’s disease affects local motor control and in terms how we can detect changes in gait that may lead to future falls,” said Marmelat.
The study relies on volunteers from the Omaha area with the disease between the ages of 60 and 90 to take part in a three-part study session. To be able to participate in the study, a few conditions must be met. A volunteer must be able to walk unassisted for at least 10 minutes, have no further neurological diseases nor any surgeries in the last six months that affect gait.
Participants fist come in for a baseline test and then come back two more times each six months apart to measure any potential changes in gait and or brain activity. Wireless sensors are placed in the participant’s shoes and on the head to measure brain activity via a cap. These sensors are only worn during the on-campus session and participants are asked to write down any falls or near falls in a journal that is provided to them said Marmelat.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, about one million people will be living with Parkinson’s in the U.S. this year. The chances of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s increases with age with only 4% being diagnosed before the age of 50. The U.S. alone is expected to lose $52 billion per year due to lost income and social security payments due to the disease.
Therapeutic surgery can cost $100,000 per patient and an additional $2,500 per year for medication, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Falls can lead to broken and or fractured bones, sprains, fear of falling, hospitalization, and therefore a reduced standard of living.
“Some studies have shown that after the first fall people are more likely to fall again and that is really what is critical is that rapidity,” said Marmelat.
Currently, the study has only been going since September of 2019 but is expected to go on for potentially years to collect the necessary data from participants. The hypothesis is to see a change in gate and brain activity as the disease progresses and possibly a communication change in the brain as it compensates for the damage done by Parkinson’s.
Some challenges they face in the study are recruiting participants, possibly due to the intimidation to joining a study that people are unsure of what they would have to do and or the commitment that would be required to participate.
“Participants may not see the direct result of the study to their health care,” said Marmelat.
This new research is the direct result of the $10 million grant awarded to the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence by the National Institute of Health. This is the second phase of the grant that was awarded five years ago.
UNMC Clinicians Dr. Danish Bhatti, Dr. John Bertoni and Dr. Amy Hellmen have helped develop the study and recruitment of volunteers. Marmelat’s main team consists of graduate student Ryan Meidinger, who is heavily involved in all aspects of the project as well as over 10 undergraduate students who collect and analyze data and contact participants.
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