Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06193252

Slow-SPEED-NL: Slowing Parkinson's Early Through Exercise Dosage-Netherlands

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility if a remotely administered smartphone app can increase the volume and intensity of physical activity in daily life in patients with isolated Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder over a long period of time (24 months).

Participants will be tasked to achieve an incremental increase of daily steps (volume) and amount of minutes exercised at a certain heart rate (intensity) with respect to their own baseline level. Motivation with regards to physical activity will entirely be communicated through the study specific Slow Speed smartphone app. Primary outcomes will be compliance expressed as longitudinal change in digital measures of physical activity (step count) measured using a Fitbit smartwatch. Exploratory outcomes entail retention rate, completeness of remote digital biomarker assessments, digital prodromal motor and non-motor features of PD, blood biomarkers and brain imaging markers. Using these biomarkers, we aim to develop a composite score (prodromal load score) to estimate the total prodromal load. An international exercise study with fellow researchers in the United States and United Kingdom are currently in preparation (Slow-SPEED). Our intention is to analyse overlapping outcomes combined where possible through a meta-analysis plan, to obtain insight on (determinants of) heterogeneity in compliance and possible efficacy across subgroups

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Behavior Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Disorder Mental Disorders Metabolic Diseases Motor Activity Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Parasomnias Parkinsonian Disorders Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Prodromal Stage Prodromal Symptoms Proteostasis Deficiencies REM Sleep Behavior Disorder REM Sleep Parasomnias Signs and Symptoms Sleep Wake Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

50 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Radboud University Medical Center

Nijmegen, Gelderland, 6525 GA, Netherlands

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Thomas Oosterhof, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+31631647857

About this study

Rationale: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease. Exercise beneficially effects motor symptoms and neuroplasticity in people with PD. However, disease-slowing interventions have been ineffective in clinically manifest PD, when pathology is already advanced, but could succeed in prodromal PD, when pathology is limited. People with an isolated Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) have a high risk to develop clinically manifest PD or a related neurodegenerative disease and are therefore considered to have probable prodromal PD. This study will take an important step forward by studying the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of long-term physical activity on prodromal symptoms and disease progression in people with probable prodromal PD using a newly developed, fully remote smartphone-based app. The app is inspired by the app used in the STEPWISE trial (NCT04848077).

Objective: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether a smartphone app can increase the volume and intensity of physical activity in daily life in patients with iRBD at risk of developing PD for a long period of time (24 months). The secondary aim is the potential group effect on physical fitness, digital prodromal motor- and non-motor symptoms. Thirdly, we investigate whether the intervention, prodromal motor- and non-motor symptoms can be assessed remotely in a digital, decentralized fashion. Fourthly, we aim to investigate the effect on imaging- and fluid biomarkers to identify markers for prodromal progression. Using these biomarkers, we aim to develop a composite score (prodromal load score) to estimate the total prodromal load.

The anticipated fluid biomarkers outcomes are subject to potential alterations in the event of the development and implementation of novel techniques and/or biomarkers during the course of this study.

Study design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial

Study population: A total of 110 Dutch patients with iRBD (ICSD-3 criteria) aged 50 years and older, who are in possession of a suitable smartphone without mobility hampering conditions and absence of cognitive impairment which impedes usage of a smartphone will be recruited

Intervention: Participants will be randomized to a group and will be motivated to increase the volume and intensity of physical activity based on their own baseline level. The groups differ in the amount of physical activity that they are tasked to achieve.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • previously diagnosed with iRBD meeting the following criteria according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3)
  • able to understand the Dutch language
  • being able to walk independently inside the home without the use of a walking aid
  • Not in a high physical activity range during the 4-week eligibility and baseline period
  • in possession of a suitable smartphone compatible with the Slow-SPEED app, the Fitbit app and the Roche PD Research Mobile application.

Exclusion criteria

  • clinically diagnosed or self-reported diagnosis neurodegenerative disease;
  • self-reported weekly falls in the previous 3 months;
  • dexterity problems or cognitive impairments hampering smartphone use;
  • if they do not wish to be informed about an increased risk of developing diseases associated with iRBD
  • if individual is not community-dwelling

Exclusion criteria

for MRI only:

  • history of epilepsy, structural brain abnormalities (i.e. stroke, traumatic defects, large arachnoid cysts) or brain surgery
  • claustrophobia
  • implanted electrical devices (i.e. pacemaker, deep-brain stimulator (DBS), neurostimulator)
  • metal implants (such as prosthetics, ossicle prosthesis, metal plates or other non-removable metal part) or metal splinters
  • pregnancy
  • fear for incidental finding

Treatment and study plan

Increase of physical activity volume and intensity with the use of a motivational smartphone application

Behavioral

A motivational smartphone application will be available for all participants using their own smartphone: the Slow-SPEED app. The Slow-SPEED app will motivate participants to increase the volume and intensity of their physical activity in daily life over a long period of time (2 years) based on their own baseline levels. Different treatment arms will receive different physical activity goals. The app offers participants feedback and support, that will stimulate them to reach their individual physical activity goal (i.e. incremental relative increase of step count and minutes exerting ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate reflecting MVPA relative to baseline level.).

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean change in step count per day

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Mean change in step count per day as measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean steps per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in step count indicate more volume of physical activity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Change in number of minutes exerting (minimally) ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate, reflecting moderate intense physical activity, measured continuously using a smartwatch. Mean minutes per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in minutes of MVPA indicate more aerobic physical activity.

  2. Change in resting heart rate (physical fitness)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Change in resting heart rate per day as measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean resting heart rate per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher negative change (i.e. lower resting heart rate) indicate better function.

  3. Change in heart rate variability (physical fitness)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Change in heart rate variability in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) measured every 5 minutes with a smartwatch. Mean RMSSD per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in RMSSD indicate better function.

  4. Change in blood pressure (physical fitness)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) blood pressure in mmHg assessed by a sphygmomanometer at follow-up (week 104). Lower scores indicate better function.

  5. Change in VO2max (physical fitness)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Change in VO2max in ml/kg/min measured per day with a smartwatch. Mean VO2max per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in VO2max indicate better function.

  6. Change in heart rate variability (autonomic function)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Mean change in heart rate variability in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) measured every 5 minutes with a smartwatch. Mean RMSSD per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in RMSSD indicate better function.

  7. Change in orthostatic blood pressure (autonomic function)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change in baseline (week 0) difference between supine and standing blood pressure measured with a sphygmomanometer to follow-up (week 104). Higher change indicate more autonomic dysfunction.

  8. Change in anxiety and depression (HADS)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year), week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-42. Higher scores indicate worse function.

  9. Change in cognition (MoCA)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-30. Higher scores indicate better function.

  10. Mean change in light sleep (sleep stage)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Mean change in light sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of light sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more light sleep.

  11. Mean change in deep sleep (sleep stage)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Mean change in deep sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of deep sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more deep sleep.

  12. Mean change in REM sleep (sleep stage)

    Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)

    Mean change in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of REM sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more REM sleep.

  13. Change in self-reported sleep quality (PSQI)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year), week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.

  14. Change in olfaction (UPSIT)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) at week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-40. Higher scores indicate better function.

  15. Change in motor symptoms (Roche PD Research mobile application)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 6, week 12, week 18, week 24, week 30, week 36, week 42, week 48, week 54, week 60, week 66, week 72, week 78, week 84, week 90, week 96, week 102

    Change in motor symptoms measured digitally with the smartphone using the Roche PD Research mobile application. Higher scores indicate worse function.

  16. Change in metabolism (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on glucose and HbA1c at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower scores indicate better metabolism.

  17. Change in inflammation (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-18, IGF-1, clusterin, Il-10, PGC-α (irisin) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower inflammatory markers indicate less inflammation. Higher anti-inflammatory markers indicate less inflammation.

  18. Change in growth factors (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and Epidermal growth factor (EGF) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Higher growth factors indicate better function.

  19. Change in ageing mechanism (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on klotho at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. High ageing marker indicate better function (i.e. less aging)

  20. Change in pathological protein (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on α-synuclein at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Low pathological protein indicate better function (i.e. less pathological process).

  21. Change in neurodegeneration (blood based biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on Neurofilament light (NfL) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower neurodegeneration markers indicate less neurodegeneration.

  22. Change in brain volume (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on T1 Voxel-Based-Morphometry (VBM) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate higher volume.

  23. Change in white matter hyperintensities (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on FLAIR at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate worse status.

  24. Change in basal ganglia; cortex [1] (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on resting-state functional MRI (Rs-fMRI) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better functional connectivity.

  25. Change in basal ganglia; cortex [2] (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on task-based functional MRI at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better functional connectivity.

  26. Change in substantia nigra [1] (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better tissue integrity.

  27. Change in substantia nigra [2] (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate more iron loading.

  28. Change in substantia nigra [3]; locus coeruleus (imaging biomarkers)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on neuromelanin at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better tissue integrity.

  29. Change in instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) (functional status)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on Lawton instrumental ADL (iADL) scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-14. Higher score indicate better function.

  30. Change in WHOQoL-BREF (quality of life)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better quality of life.

  31. Change in Research and Development (RAND-36)/Short Form health survey (SF-36) (quality of life)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on RAND-36/SF-36 scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better quality of life.

  32. System Usability (SUS)

    Time frame: week 104 (follow-up)

    Usability of the Slow-SPEED-NL application assessed by the Dutch version of the System Usability Scale (SUS) at week 52 (year 1) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better usability.

  33. Barriers and motivators to engage in physical activity

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Barriers and motivators to engage in physical activity reported on a self-developed questionnaire

  34. Change in phenoconversion neurodegenerative disease

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Change from baseline (week 0) on phenoconversion in Parkinson's Disease (PD), Lewy body dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Higher scores indicate more phenoconversion.

  35. Change in step count on a group level (compliance)

    Time frame: Week -4 until 0 (baseline) compared to week 0-26, week 26-52, week 52-78, week 78-104

    Change from week -4 until 0 (baseline period) mean step count per day compared to mean step count in 6 month periods. Mean step count per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Scored as number of participants able to increase step count per day 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100% relative to their own baseline measure

  36. Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity per day on a group level (compliance)

    Time frame: Week -4 until 0 (baseline) compared to week 0-26, week 26-52, week 52-78, week 78-104

    Change from week -4 until 0 (baseline period) number of minutes exerting (minimally) ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate in 6 month periods. Mean minutes per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Scored as number of participants to increase 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100% relative to their own baseline measure

  37. Number of completed step week goals on a group level (compliance)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Total number of completed step count week goals

  38. Number of completed aerobic activity (MVPA intensity) week goals on a group level (compliance)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)

    Total number of completed aerobic activity (MVPA intensity) week goals

  39. Number of drop-outs on a group level (retention rate)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)

    Number of drop-outs throughout the study

  40. Number of interactions with Slow-SPEED app on a group level

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)

    Total times opening the app

  41. Number of completed questionnaires on group level (completeness of digital assessments)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52, week 104 (follow-up)

    Number of completed questionnaires

  42. Number of smartwatch data points on group level (completeness of digital assessments)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)

    Number of data points received for each selected smartwatch parameter

  43. Total smartwatch wear time on group level (completeness of digital assessments)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)

    Total smartwatch wear time

  44. Number of Roche PD Research mobile application data points on group level (completeness of digital assessments)

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 6, week 12, week 18, week 24, week 30, week 36, week 42, week 48, week 54, week 60, week 66, week 72, week 78, week 84, week 90, week 96, week 102

    Number of data points received

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Thomas Oosterhof, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

0031631647857

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Radboud University Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • 23andMe, Inc.
  • Anne Wojcicki Foundation
  • Cure Parkinson's
  • Davis Phinney Foundation
  • Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging
  • Edmond J. Safra Foundation
  • Erasmus Medical Center
  • Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
  • Hoffmann-La Roche
  • IJsfontein B.V., Netherlands
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • McGill University
  • Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
  • Parkinson's UK
  • Parkinsons Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI)
  • Queen Mary University of London
  • Sleep Medicine Centre Kempenhaeghe
  • Sleep Medicine Centre SEIN
  • Stichting ParkinsonNL
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • University of Luebeck
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Plymouth
  • University of Rochester
  • ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

Registry information

Acronym: Slow-SPEED-NL

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 5, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.