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NCT Number: NCT02696603

Mobile Parkinson Observatory for Worldwide, Evidence-based Research (mPower)

The purpose of this study is to understand variation in the symptoms of Parkinson disease. This study uses an iPhone app to record these symptoms through questionnaires and sensors.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Sage Bionetworks

Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States

About this study

Living with Parkinson disease means coping with symptoms that change every day. Yet these changes are not tracked frequently enough. Most people with Parkinson disease see a clinician only once or twice a year. This study measures changes in Parkinson disease symptoms in real time using an app. The app remotely monitors Parkinson disease symptoms using surveys and the sensors on mobile devices. This study may contribute to increasing our understanding of the variability in Parkinson disease symptoms. This knowledge could be used to improve quality of life for people living with Parkinson disease.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 years
  • Have a personal (i.e., not shared) iPhone (4s or newer running iOS 8.0 or later)
  • Be able to read and understand an official language of the country of participation
  • Be able to provide informed consent (i.e., pass assessment quiz)
  • Be willing to follow study procedures

Exclusion criteria

  • Age 17 years or younger
  • Not a resident of the of a country where the app is approved for use
  • Not have a personal (i.e., not shared) iPhone (4s or newer running iOS 8.0 or later)
  • Not be able to read and understand an official language of the country of participation
  • Not be able to give informed consent
  • Not be willing to follow study procedures

Treatment and study plan

Participant self-assessment surveys

Behavioral

At enrollment, participants are asked to complete a baseline health history and a participant-reported symptom inventory. Thereafter, participants are asked to respond to commonly used questions that assess Parkinson Disease symptoms and quality of life at regular intervals.

Phonation

Behavioral

Participants are asked to record themselves saying "Aaah" for 10 seconds using the iPhone microphone. This activity is designed to assess vocal features, including vocal tremor. The investigators extract features from the digital audio signals of these sustained phonations. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms and analyze these phonations using methods similar to those employed in the Parkinson Voice Initiative.

Gait and balance

Behavioral

Participants are asked to walk back and forth for 30 seconds and then stand still for 30 seconds. Gait and balance are measured by gyroscope and accelerometer sensors. The investigators examine step-dependent and sequence-dependent features from these sensors. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms to analyze these data.

Memory

Behavioral

Participants are asked to complete a visuospatial short-term memory game related to the Corsi block tapping test [Corsi, P.M. (1972)] as adapted by Kate Possin, PhD of the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center (personal communication, 2015). In this activity, participants are presented with a grid of objects that change color in a set pattern. Participants are then asked to tap the objects in that same pattern. The investigators assess the sequence length completed.

Dexterity

Behavioral

Participants are asked to tap on the phone screen with alternating fingers. This test can be done with either or both hands. The investigators record the rhythm, speed, and location of these taps using the touch sensors of the iPhone screen. The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision.

Participant open-response writing

Behavioral

Qualitative participant feedback is used to assess participant engagement with, understanding of, and acceptance of app-based research.

Parkinson mPower mobile application

Other

Participants complete all described behavioral interventions via a dedicated iPhone app, Parkinson mPower.

Primary outcomes

  1. Results of participant self-assessment surveys

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    Results of participant self-assessment surveys will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  2. Digital audio signals of sustained phonation from phonation intervention

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    The investigators extract features from the digital audio signals of sustained phonations. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms and analyze these phonations using methods similar to those employed in the Parkinson Voice Initiative (http://www.parkinsonsvoice.org/science.php). These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  3. Gyroscope and accelerometer sensor measurements from gait and balance intervention

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    The investigators examine step-dependent and sequence-dependent features from gyroscope and accelerometer sensors. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms to analyze these data. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  4. Sequence length from memory intervention

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    The investigators assess the sequence length completed in the Memory intervention. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  5. iPhone screen touch sensor data on rhythm, speed, and location of taps from dexterity intervention

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  6. App usage data for assessment of participant engagement

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    App usage data is used to gauge participant engagement throughout the study period. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

  7. Qualitative analysis of participant open-response and app usage data to assess participant acceptance of app-based research

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

    App usage data and qualitative participant feedback are used to assess participant understanding and acceptance of app-based research. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sage Bionetworks

Other

Collaborators

  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Registry information

Acronym: mPower

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 2, 2016
Registry last updated
Jun 11, 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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