Dr. Martin McKeown, University of British Columbia
$72,561 over one year, funded in partnership with Parkinson Canada during the 2023 – 2025 research funding cycle
Project description:
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have embarked on an exciting study that could revolutionize the way individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) manage their medication. For those affected by Parkinson’s, the medication L-dopa has been a staple treatment for over half a century. Despite the long-standing use of this medicine, patients commonly face key questions, such as how much and how often they should take their medication. This study aims to provide clearer answers, particularly to the latter.
Medical professionals commonly recommend a strict schedule for taking L-dopa, such as a pill at specific times throughout the day. While beneficial, this method does not account for the varying durations of L-dopa’s effectiveness, which can be influenced separately by dietary protein intake and physical activity, among other lifestyle and physiological factors. Therefore, there is a pressing need for more personalized dosing strategies.
A less advised, but frequently adopted approach, is for patients to take another dose of L-dopa when they begin to notice the effects of the previous dose wearing off. This strategy is far from optimal, as it can lead to discomfort while waiting for the new dose to take effect, which can take up to 45 minutes. In addition, a more consistent maintenance of L-dopa levels is believed to prevent complications later in the disease’s progression. Imagine a wearable device, much like a wristwatch, that alerts the wearer it’s time for their next dose before they start feeling the discomfort of wearing off — this is the innovative solution this study seeks to develop.
This study uses the Empatica EmbracePlus, a sensor-equipped wristband that tracks various physiological parameters, including sweat, heart rate, and skin temperature. Dr. Martin McKeown’s laboratory has previously demonstrated that by analyzing data from such devices, it is possible to distinguish when a patient’s medication is active (“On”) and when it’s not (“Off”). This analysis, however, needs to be personalized for each individual.
The study, extending prior results, will involve 25 individuals with Parkinson’s wearing the sensor for 24 hours. Participants will, in parallel, complete an online questionnaire throughout the day to report symptoms commonly experienced when their medication is wearing off, such as sweating or anxiety. Researchers will then analyze the sensor data to determine if they can predict the onset of these symptoms before the patients are aware of them.
This project is a step toward personalized health monitoring and management for Parkinson’s disease, leveraging cutting-edge wearable technology to improve quality of life.