APDA RESEARCH: EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY

APDA is committed to funding research that advances our understanding of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and improves the lives of those affected by it. Two current APDA-funded researchers are exploring innovative technologies that may help people with PD tackle gait and balance issues, among other challenging symptoms.

Dr. James Liao, from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, is using augmented reality (AR) technology, in which computer-generated visual cues are superimposed onto the real world to help individuals with PD who experience freezing of gait (FOG). FOG is a common gait disorder of PD in which individuals feel as though their feet are glued to the ground and they are unable to take steps forward. Dr. Liao’s AR system provides visual cues to guide individuals through their movements and help overcome this freezing.

This technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for those with PD, especially as AR devices improve, get smaller, and become more user-friendly.

Dr. Ryan Roemmich, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, is using video-based movement assessments to monitor individuals with PD, allowing for the objective and remote measurement of motor symptoms, such as slowness of movement and gait abnormalities, which are hallmarks of PD. These measurements and data can inform care decisions and assist in tele-rehabilitation.

The ability to monitor individuals from a distance has the potential to improve access to care for those who live in remote or underserved areas, as well as reduce the inconvenience of frequent clinic visits for patients and their families. Ideally, this will lead to a user-friendly application for your phone, making it easy to record these videos and measurements with great accuracy that can easily be shared with your doctor.

Want to learn more? We spoke to Drs. Liao and Roemmich on a recent episode of APDA’s Dr. Gilbert Hosts.