Misfolded Proteins in the Skin of People With Parkinson's Disease and Other Parkinsonism

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS CLEVELAND MEDICAL CENTER · Aug 14, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the presence of misfolded proteins in the skin of people with various types of parkinsonism, including Parkinson's disease and related conditions like multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies. The goal is to find out if these proteins can help doctors determine the specific type of parkinsonism a person has. This information could be valuable in guiding treatment and understanding the disease better.

To participate in this study, you need to be between 21 and 89 years old and have a confirmed diagnosis of one of the conditions being studied, or you can be a healthy control. Participants will undergo assessments, including a simple cognitive test, and may have a small skin sample taken. It's important to note that individuals with certain medical histories or conditions, such as allergies to anesthetics or recent brain surgeries, may not be eligible. This trial is currently recruiting, and it aims to provide insights that could help improve care for people with these serious conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 21 years old and age \<90 years of age at the time of the baseline visit 1
• • Age of diagnosis at least 40 years old for PD, DLB, and PSP and at least 30 years old for MSA
• • A confirmed diagnosis of PD, PSP, CBD, MSA, DLB, or healthy control
• • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \> 10 at the outset of the study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age 90 or above
• • Allergy to local anesthetic
• • History of deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other brain surgery prior to Visit 1
• • For PD or DLB diagnoses, any other neurodegenerative or central nervous system process that would interfere with examination
• • For PD or DLB, history of negative DATscan
• • Use of investigational drugs or devices within 60 days prior to baseline visit (except for dietary supplements)
• • In control subjects, family history of a neurodegenerative disease in a first degree or second degree blood relative
• • History of schizophrenia
• • History of antipsychotic medication use or exposure in controls or history of antipsychotic medication leading to parkinsonism (drug induced parkinsonism) in the parkinsonism group
• • Blood clotting disorder
• • On multiple (more than one) antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant blood thinner medications in combination (except for aspirin if it can be safely held for 1 week)
• • Any other medical, psychiatric, or cognitive illness that in the investigator's opinion would interfere with cooperation or ability to undergo the study procedures.