Research

Effects of exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition in Parkinson's Disease.

Study Purpose

To examine the cumulative effects of a combined exercise, mindfulness, and nutrition intervention on the overall health of older adults with Parkinson's Disease.

Details

All patients will complete an initial assessment (involving motor and non motor assessments, cognitive assessments, MRI and DEXA scans, a hearing test, etc) over the course of 3 days, then randomized into either the intervention or waitlist group. Following this, the intervention group will complete 6 months of exercise classes, mindfulness, and nutrition training, followed by another assessment. The waitlist group will continue with their daily activities for 6 months, undergo a second assessment, complete the same 6-month intervention, and complete a third, and final assessment.

For more information on study details and contact information: Study Information Poster

Are you living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and interested in dietary interventions?

What is being studied?

• Under the direction of Dr. Appel-Cresswell, clinical researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, are examining how diet may affect the gut microbiome and Parkinson’s symptoms over an 18-month study.

Where does the study take place?

• The study will occur in-person at UBC’s Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), plus completing some study tasks at home on your own computer.

Who can participate in this study?

You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are between 40-80 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of PD,

• Are cognitively and medically stable,

• Have computer and internet access at home (with video capability),

• Can follow verbal and written instructions in English,

• Can complete an MRI scan (no contraindications).

What is involved in the study during the 18 months?

• Random assignment (by chance) to either the diet intervention being studied or to the standard diet (you will remain in the same group for the 18 months),

• Six (6) in-person visits at UBC with the research team, to complete questionnaires, blood sample collections, and MRI (twice).

• Monthly remote/virtual sessions (Zoom) from your own home for diet coaching and group cooking classes.

• Daily physical movement recorded on a wearable wrist device,

• Collection of urine and faecal samples at home before each

For more information about the study, contact pd.diet@ubc.ca

This study involves a 1-2 hour session assessing music competency and appetency in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Participation is open to individuals across Canada.

For more information on study details and contact information: Study Recruitment Poster

Does stroke care matter to you? Tell us what you think about stroke care for young women living in British Columbia.

We will be exploring the experiences of women aged 18 to 60, who had a stroke in the province, and make recommendations for the development of high-quality and equitable stroke care for women.

The study is being conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia.

Study name: EQUIT Stroke Study.

Co-Investigator: Ismália De Sousa, UBC School of Nursing. 

For more information, click this anonymous link: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3f581X9S6limhwi

Study Information Poster

Are you interested in helping us learn how to help those who cannot swallow?

The Swallowing Innovations Lab is looking for healthy volunteers to take part in a study that measures parts of breathing and swallowing.

Who can participate:

• Healthy adults (>18 years of age)

• Able to communicate (comprehension and expression) fluently using spoken and written English

• Ambulatory

• Independent with activities of independent living (e.g. grooming, toileting, dressing)

Participants will be screened and excluded if they report a medical history of:

• current or previous treatment for dysphagia

• a current or previous tracheostomy tube

• autoimmune disorder (e.g., dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome)

• congenital and/or chronic cardiovascular disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, severe hypertension)

• chronic respiratory illnesses (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis)

• deviated septum

• head and/or neck cancer diagnosis

• head and/or neck surgery (including but not limited to laryngectomy)

• neurologic/neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury)

• known bleeding disorder and/or frequent nosebleeds

• history of clotting disorder and/or blood clots

• viral infection/post-viral syndrome (e.g., chronic viral infection, long COVID, post-infective fatigue syndrome)

• pregnancy or possible pregnancy

• anxiety during medical procedures

• current smoker

• lidocaine allergy

• serious food allergies

Participation will be a single session lasting 50-60 minutes. We will assess your hand grip strength, tongue/lip strength, lung volume, breathing movement and swallowing using special devices.

Location: Surrey Memorial Hospital, Critical Care Tower (Green Zone)

3rd Floor, UBC Faculty of Medicine Clinical Skills Lab

13750-96 Ave Surrey, BC, V3V 1Z2

Contact: If you are interested in participating in this study, contact Ann-Marie Schreiber at aschreib@student.ubc.ca

Study Information Poster

It is well known that people with progressive neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) often encounter challenges with driving related to physical and cognitive symptoms and progression of their condition. Currently, there is a lack of programming to provide support to individuals to either continue driving or retire from driving at the appropriate time. Decisions on Driving, an educational workbook was developed to fill this gap by providing individuals with neurodegenerative conditions the tools to make informed decisions surrounding their driving. This workbook has been further developed into a group based program that is intended to be run over the course of three sessions. We are currently recruiting individuals to participate in the Decisions on Driving program and provide feedback on its content. This is a University of British Columbia study.

What is involved:
You will be asked to join three, 1-hour group based sessions over zoom and complete a questionnaire both before and after the sessions.

Who can participate:

• Definitive diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Current patient of either the UBC Movement Disorders Clinic or UBC Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

• 19 years of age or older

• Living in the community

• Current driver with valid Class 5 license

• Able to read and communicate in English

• Access to computer, smartphone or tablet with Zoom technology

Who cannot participate:

• People who have been identified by Road Safety BC or other entity as requiring a driving assessment

• People who have been determined not fit to drive

Principle Investigator:
Dr. Susan Forwell, UBC Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Primary Contact:
Jeremy Au | 604-500-2303 | jerau@student.ubc.ca

It is well known that exercise helps slow down disease progression, but how exactly does it work? What changes occur in the brain in response to sustained levels of exercise?

Our research study aims to answer these questions using brain scanning—in particular, using positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain energetics, or how the brain produces and uses energy. There is evidence that PD alters healthy brain energetics, and exercise may be a means to slow down or even reverse these changes.

We are currently recruiting active individuals or people participating in less than 120 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week.

What is involved:

You will be asked to come in for assessments, an exercise test, and a single PET/MRI scan over three separate study visits, and then repeat the three visits after 6 months. You will be reimbursed for travel or provided with transportation.

Who can participate:

• Have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

• Ages 40-80

• Currently participating in less than 120 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week.

• Able to maintain and report activity levels for 24 weeks

• Able to tolerate laying down on their back for about 90 minutes for PET/MRI scanning and not have claustrophobia or a fear of needles

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypertension

• Diabetes

• Depression treated with antidepressants

• Serious head injury with loss of consciousness for ≥ 5 minutes

Primary Contact:

Jess McKenzie | 604-822-7764 | jess.mckenzie@ubc.ca

Participate in studies recruiting people with various health conditions.

Search for studies by Body System, Disorders & Conditions, or Diagnosis & Therapy. The directory 300+ active studies.

Participate in studies recruiting healthy volunteers.

Studies will often recruit healthy volunteers (i.e. without health conditions) as a comparison group to those with a given condition.

A clinical trial is any research study that prospectively assigns participants to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes.

Clinical trials in Canada are required to be listed on ClinicalTrials.Gov, a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.

Find recruiting studies.

There are many opportunities to participate in research at DMCBH. Opportunities specific to the Centre are listed on this webpage. New research projects come up often, so be sure to check back regularly.

Opportunities specific to the Lab are listed on this webpage. New research projects come up often, so be sure to check back regularly.