Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common brain disorder that affects movement. It usually develops later in life and gradually worsens over time. People with Parkinson's may experience symptoms such as shaking (tremor), slow movement (bradykinesia), muscle stiffness, and problems with walking or balance. What makes Parkinson's especially challenging is that these symptoms can change throughout the day - a person may feel relatively well one moment and struggle to move just hours later.
Why is this a problem? This daily fluctuation in symptoms - known as motor fluctuations - makes it difficult for both patients and doctors to manage the disease. Traditional ways of monitoring symptoms, like keeping a diary or waiting until the next doctor's visit, don't always capture the full picture of what's happening. This can lead to treatment plans that don't match a person's actual needs.
What is the study about? We are exploring whether using wearable technology - in this case, a smartwatch and mobile app called KinesiaU - can help people with Parkinson's and their doctors better track and manage symptoms. The smartwatch measures movement throughout the day and sends data to a mobile app. This gives a more accurate and detailed view of how symptoms change over time, outside of the doctor's office.
Who is involved in the study?
The study will include 32 people living with Parkinson's disease who are experiencing motor fluctuations. They will be randomly divided into two groups:
Group 1: Standard Care Group - These participants will continue their regular care, which may include doctor visits, motor symptom diaries, and interviews with their care team.
Group 2: Wearable Device Group - These participants will also receive standard care plus use the KinesiaU smartwatch and app. They will wear the device at least five days a week, and the information it collects will be used by their doctors to make timely and personalized treatment decisions.
How will the study work?
Everyone in the study will be assessed at the beginning, then again at Week 2 and Week 4. During these check-ins,Investigators will measure:
Changes in movement symptoms using a standard clinical scale (MDS-UPDRS III)
Quality of life (using a questionnaire called PDQ-39)
How confident patients feel in managing their health (using a tool called PAM-13)
Investigators will also track whether people are willing and able to stick with the program, how often they wear the device, and whether the data collected is complete and usable.
Why is this study important? This is the first pilot study in our region to test this kind of wearable technology for people with Parkinson's. If it goes well, it will show that using a smartwatch is not only possible and helpful, but also something people are willing to do. The results will guide a larger study in the future and could help bring this kind of technology into routine clinical care.
The goal is to make Parkinson's care more personalized, data-driven, and responsive to real life. Investigators believe that by using innovative tools like smartwatches, we can give people living with Parkinson's more control over their health and improve their quality of life.
