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NCT Number: NCT06343558

Gait and Balance Impairment in Rare and Very Rare Neurological Diseases

Rare and very rare neurological diseases primarily or exclusively affect the nervous system with a prevalence of < 5 out of 10'000 and 100'000 people, respectively. Besides these, there are undiagnosed neurological diseases: neurological conditions without a diagnosis after completing a full diagnostic examination.

Rare, very rare, and undiagnosed neurological diseases are complicated and progressive and often cause variegated motor signs, impairments, and syndromes.

Balance and gait are frequently affected in these conditions, already at the clinical examination. These balance and gait impairments limit activities and cause an increased risk of falling. Falls can eventually result in injuries, even severe.

There are only a few studies about these diseases, likely because of their rarity. Hence, the clinical presentation and the course of rare and very rare diseases are poorly known or even unknown. Essential information for these conditions' diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation is missing.

MaNeNeND is an observational study underway at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta" (Milano) aimed at detailing the clinical and biological features of very rare and undiagnosed neurological diseases.

Research questions:

1. Do patients with rare (Ra), very rare (V) and undiagnosed (U) neurological diseases suffer a balance and gait impairment? 2. Is there a correlation between the clinical and instrumental severity of the balance and gait impairment in RaVU neurological diseases? 3. Are instrumental measures more sensitive in detecting balance and gait impairments in patients affected by a RaVU neurological disease than the clinical measures? 4. Do the balance and gait impairments in RaVU neurological diseases worsen in time?

The current project aims at diagnosing, quantifying and detailing the balance and gait impairment in rare, very rare and undiagnosed neurological diseases.

To this aim, questionnaires, clinical scales and instrumental tests will be administered to these patients to collect a wide range of balance and gait measures.

These measures will also integrate those collected with MaNeNeND to provide a more detailed description of patients with rare, very rare and diagnosed neurological diseases.

Participants will complete two questionnaires: the Dizziness Handicap Inventory - short form (DHI-sf, an ordinal score of self-perceived balance) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS, an ordinal score of self-perceived fatigue).

Moreover, a clinician will administer the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest, an ordinal score of balance), the 10 m walking test (for measuring the gait speed and other gait parameters) and the Timed Up and Go test (an instrumental measure of mobility and balance). Walking and the Timed Up and Go tests will be recorded with a trunk-worn inertial measurement unit.

Finally, participants will be asked to complete an instrumental upright stance and gait assessment, the first consisting of standing on posturographic plates and the second of walking on a treadmill equipped with force sensors. When walking on the treadmill, an optoelectronic system will also record the position in time of limbs and trunk.

The quantification of the severity of the balance and gait impairment of the patients suffering a rare, very rare or undiagnosed neurological disease will highlight these persons' therapeutic and rehabilitative needs.

Comparing the balance and gait impairment of rare, very rare and undiagnosed diseases with those of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and peripheral neuropathy will highlight if the formers' balance and gait impairment has unique characteristics that could help ease the diagnosis of these uncommon conditions.

The longitudinal measurements on rare, very rare and undiagnosed diseases will be paramount to identifying prognostic factors.

In addition, the data collected in the current study will be crucial for future studies, for example, for estimating the sample size in clinical trials.

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Disease Attributes Healthy Healthy Aging Immune System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Peripheral Neuropathy Rare Diseases Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower limbs or rare or ultrarare neurological disease (e.g. la Cerebellar Ataxia with Neuropathy and Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome - CANVAS, ORPHAcode: 504476; Wilson's disease, ORPHAcode: 905)
  • undiagnosed neurological disease, i.e. a neurological disease that remains unknown after a full diagnostic assessment;
  • age > 18 years;
  • ability to stand upright with no assistance and no assistive device for > 30 seconds;
  • ability to walk without assistance and with no assistive device for > 50 m;
  • ability to give their informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • any other medical conditions affecting by itself balance and gait (e.g. lower limb amputation, hemiparesis due to a stroke)
  • major orthopaedic surgery (e.g. hip or knee replacement).

Treatment and study plan

Questionnaires, clinical scales and instrumental tests

Other

Questionnaires, clinical scales and instrumental tests to collect a wide range of balance and gait measures.

Primary outcomes

  1. Balance (Mini-BESTest)

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest, an ordinal score of balance)

  2. Balance (Timed Up and Go test)

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Timed Up and Go test instrumented with inertial sensors

  3. Gait speed

    Time frame: At enrollment

    10 m walking test

  4. Gait analysis - kinematic - stride length

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Stride length, right step length and left step length

  5. Gait analysis - kinematic - duration

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Stride duration, right and left step duration

  6. Gait analysis - kinematic - width of the base of support

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Width of the base of support

  7. Gait analysis - kinematic - dorsal ankle angle

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Dorsal ankle angle

  8. Gait analysis - dynamic - reaction force

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Anterior-posterior, mediolateral and vertical reaction force

  9. Gait analysis - dynamic - ankle power

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Right and left ankle power

  10. Gait analysis - dynamic - energy

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Potential and kinetic energy of the body centre of mass

  11. Posturography - static - centre of pressure position

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Centre of pressure position while standing

  12. Posturography - static - centre of mass position

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Centre of mass position while standing

  13. Posturography - dynamic - centre of pressure position

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Centre of pressure position after base of support perturbations

  14. Posturography - dynamic - centre of mass position

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Centre of mass position after base of support perturbations

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Other

Collaborators

  • Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta

Registry information

Acronym: GALVANISE

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 2, 2024
Registry last updated
Aug 3, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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