Current research: life with Parkinson's

Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist We are currently funding 23 research projects worth over £5million that focus on problems that affect people with Parkinson's.

Our projects tackle complex issues such as sleep, depression and dementia, as well as attempting to develop better therapies and services.

Until a cure is found for Parkinson's we need to find better ways of managing the many and varied symptoms of the condition.

Here are details of some of the research projects we are funding in this area.

A drug trial to improve balance and prevent falls

Dr Emily Henderson, University of Bristol
£249,998 over 3 years
Start date: April 2011
Training fellowship: F-1003

Emily's study will investigate whether drugs that improve attention and thinking can also help to prevent people with Parkinson's falling.

A drug trial to improve balance and prevent falls - research project summary (PDF, 467KB)

Should we start Parkinson's treatment earlier?

Professor Kailash Bhatia, University College London
£109,795 over 2 years
Start date: April 2011
Project grant: G-1009

Kailash wants to know if treating people with Parkinson's earlier helps the brain cope with losing dopamine nerve cells. If early treatment is beneficial this project could lead to changes in clinical practice.

Nintendo Wii: Moving and balancing with Parkinson's

Dr Cathy Craig, Queen's University Belfast
£34,709 over 12 months
Start date: March 2011
Innovation grant: K-1002

Cathy will explore whether the Nintendo Wii - a home video games console that is controlled by body movements - can be used to help improve these symptoms in people with Parkinson's.

Nintendo Wii: Moving and balancing with Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 552KB)

Why do people with Parkinson's have difficulty with posture?

Dr Karen Doherty, University College London
£28,175 over 12 months
Start date: December 2010
Innovation grant: K-1010

Many people with Parkinson's experience changes in their posture at some stage. Karen wants to find ways to identify people at high risk of postural problems and understand how these changes affect daily life.

Why do people with Parkinson's have difficulty with posture? - research project summary (PDF, 58KB)

An objective measure of dyskinesia

Dr Stephen Smith, University of York
£33,935 over 12 months
Start date: October 2010
Innovation grant: K-1005

Stephen aims to develop a simple, reliable and safe way to measure dyskinesia in people with Parkinson's, using a computer-based system.

An objective measure of dyskinesia - research project summary (PDF, 388KB)

The true costs of Parkinson's

Dr Emma McIntosh, University of Oxford
£210,060 over 3 years
Start date: February 2011
Senior research fellowship: F-1001

Emma aims to use the latest economic methods to identify the costs and benefits of key Parkinson's treatments, community care and carer burden.

The true costs of Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 70KB)

Which comes first? Parkinson's or eye trouble?

Dr Tara Moore, University of Ulster
£32,962 over 8 months
Start date: December 2009
Innovation grant: K-0907

Tara will compare 500 people with Parkinson's to 500 people without the condition to investigate how eye problems affect people who have Parkinson's.

Which comes first? Parkinson's or eye trouble? - research project summary (PDF, 465KB)

Can non-invasive brain stimulation help walking and turning in people with Parkinson's?

Dr Geert Verheyden, Southampton University
£33,608 over 9 months
Start date: October 2010
Innovation grant: K-0909

Geert's project will test whether new ways of stimulating the brain, without using drugs or surgery, can help people with Parkinson's to turn or walk more easily.

Can non-invasive brain stimulation help walking and turning in people with Parkinson's? - research project summary (PDF, 251KB)

Why do people with Parkinson's have trouble swallowing?

Dr Shaheen Hamdy, University of Manchester
£15,576 over 12 months
Start date: May 2010
Innovation grant: K-0910

Shaheen is investigating how and why swallowing problems develop in people with Parkinson's which will hopefully lead to treatments that can manage or even prevent them altogether.

Why do people with Parkinson's have trouble swallowing? - research project summary (PDF,172KB)

Abdominal massage to ease constipation in people with Parkinson's

Dr Doreen McClurg, Glasgow Caledonian University
£33,576 over 12 months
Start date: April 2010
Innovation grant: K-0908

Doreen wants to find out if it's practical to teach people with Parkinson's or their carers to treat constipation using abdominal massage.

Abdominal massage to ease constipation in people with Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 37KB)

Assistive technology: what is there and is it useful?

Professor Sheila Kitchen, King's College London
£163,223 over 30 months
Start date: April 2010
Project grant: G-0913

Sheila's project will examine what kinds of assistive technologies - like walking sticks and easy grip cutlery - are available for people with Parkinson's, and how useful they are.

Assistive technology: what is there and is it useful? - research project summary (PDF, 64KB)

What changes happen over time for people with Parkinson's and their carers?

Dr Carl Counsell, University of Aberdeen
£188,665 over 3 years
Start date: February 2010
Project grant: G-0914

Carl's project will investigate how Parkinson's changes over time and how we can provide health care and information to best meet the needs of people affected by the condition and their families.

What changes happen over time for people with Parkinson's and their carers? - research project summary (PDF, 685KB)

Preventing activity-related falls in Parkinson's

Dr Emma Stack, University of Southampton
£182,799 over 3 years
Start date: February 2010
Career development award: F-0901

Emma wants to know what types of activities cause problems with balance and mobility for people with Parkinson's, with the aim of developing some practical solutions.

Preventing activity-related falls in Parkinson's - research project summary (PDF, 197KB)

Combating the sleep problems facing people with Parkinson's

Dr Roger Barker, University of Cambridge
£436,239 over 3 years
Start date: May 2009
Themed research: J-0801

Roger's project is investigating the variety of sleep problems that can affect people with Parkinson's to help us understand and treat these problems better.

News story: Funding from the Big Lottery Fund to investigate sleep disorders and Parkinson's

Identifying people with Parkinson's who are at risk of getting dementia

Professor David Burn, Clinical Ageing Research Unit in Newcastle
£1,184,209 over 5 years
Start date: February 2009
Themed research: J-0802

David's UK-wide study will follow people with Parkinson's, looking at genetic make up, brain imaging and symptoms to identify patterns in those who go on to develop memory and thinking problems.

Identifying people with Parkinson's who are at risk of getting dementia - research project summary (PDF, 374KB)

Who gets impulsive and compulsive behaviour?

Professor Paola Piccini, Imperial College London
£310,319 over 3 years
Start date: April 2008
Themed research: J-0704

Paola aims to uncover why some people are more prone to developing problems with impulsive and compulsive behaviour. Identifying people early will help doctors choose the right drugs to treat them and could prevent these problems altogether.

Managing impulsive and compulsive behaviour

Professor Anthony David, Kings College London
£333,333 over 3 years
Start date: July 2008
Themed research: J-0705

Anthony's project will explore whether Parkinson's nurses with experience and skills in mental health can help people to managing their impulsive and compulsive behaviour problems in the community.

News story: Link between Parkinson's drugs and compulsive behaviour to be explored by new research

Studying depression and mood changes in Parkinson's

Professor Richard Brown, Institute of Psychiatry in London
£972,430 over 5 years
Start date: October 2006
Themed research: J-0601

Richard's UK-wide study is investigating the impact of Parkinson's on mood. He aims to find effective ways to tackle problems of anxiety, feeling low or depressed.