Understanding progression and natural history of patients with Atypical Parkinsonism (ATPARK): A longitudinal follow-up study
Funded by Pratiksha Trust Extra-Mural Support for Transformational Aging Brain Research (EMSTAR) Grant
Principal Investigator
Prof Ravi Yadav,
Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology,
NIMHANS, Bengaluru-29
Summary
Parkinson’s disease and other look-alikes (atypical Parkinsonism) form the 2nd largest group of neurodegenerative disorders. Atypical parkinsonism group is very difficult to treat for physicians and challenging for the carers. They encompass a mix of conditions with poor prognoses and lower survival with limited treatment options. However, it is acknowledged by scientists that these are the final frontiers for neurosciences and the cure is still a little far away. There is little information on how they evolve and the longevity of patients that suffer from it. Our study group of neuroscientists aims to understand the evolution and progression of atypical Parkinsonism among a cohort of patients with a full assessment.
In this prospective longitudinal study, we envisage prospectively recruiting a large cohort of patients with AT and thoroughly characterizing them by detailed clinical phenotyping by clinical assessment, genetic evaluation, neuroimaging using advanced MRI techniques, biological sampling for biomarker testing sleep studies (PSG), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), and cell- based studies (IPSCs). These patients will then be followed up by actively following up and periodic assessments for the previously recorded parameters at baseline and at least one or two times over the next 3 years up to a maximum till the study duration. This data will be used to identify patterns and changes and help us prepare disease-specific models for phenotype, genetics, biomarker, and neuroimaging. This unique native dataset on atypical parkinsonian disorders will provide a better understanding of risks and demography and advance information on biomarkers.
Aims:
- To identify clinical, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, genetic, epigenetic, sleep, circadian rhythm, eye movement, and brain imaging biomarkers in atypical Parkinsonian syndromes by serial recording and follow-up on at least three-time points which are at least one year apart.
- To understand the neurodegeneration and functional disintegration of biological functions with time by analyzing the above biological data.
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