Dr. Caroline Paquette, McGill University
$75,000 over one year, funded by Parkinson Society British Columbia through the Parkinson Canada Research Program during the 2022 – 2024 research funding cycle
Project description:
Dr. Caroline Paquette is conducting a study to investigate how fatigue affects how people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) walk and move. Fatigue is a common issue for people with PD. It impacts their everyday life and tasks, making them harder to perform and reducing their quality of life. Fatigue isn’t just about being physically tired; it can also involve feelings of mental and emotional exhaustion, all of which could be connected to changes in the brain linked with PD.
The aim of the pilot study is to explore whether changes in brain activity, related to fatigue, occur when people with PD walk. Moreover, the study will examine how fatigue influences the control of movement and overall walking ability in PD patients. To do this, the study will involve 24 participants. They will be divided into two groups: one group who are experiencing fatigue and one group who are not. Each participant will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires covering different topics, such as their feelings of fatigue, mood, sleep quality, physical symptoms related to PD, and their level of physical activity.
In addition, participants will be asked to wear an activity tracker, similar to a fitness watch, for five days. This will measure their physical activity levels. They will also keep a daily diary, recording their activities, sleep quality, mood, levels of fatigue, and anything that seems to make their fatigue worse.
Next, participants will undergo two brain scans. These scans will measure the activity in different areas of the brain while they walk, with special attention to areas that might be linked with feelings of fatigue. The researchers will use special motion sensors to carefully assess any effects of fatigue on the participants’ ability to walk, especially during more complex tasks.
Lastly, a series of interviews will be conducted to explore more deeply the experiences of fatigue. By understanding the many ways fatigue can be experienced, researchers hope to gain a better understanding of this symptom.
This study is crucial because there is much we still do not understand about fatigue in PD. Fatigue can greatly impact a person’s ability to walk and perform daily activities, so it is important to understand its relationship with movement and the associated brain mechanisms. This pilot study is taking an innovative approach to unravel the complex experience of fatigue in PD, from the multidimensional symptoms to its relationship with brain activity during complex tasks like walking. The insights gained could pave the way for new strategies to manage fatigue and improve quality of life for people with PD.
Reproduced with permission from Parkinson Canada.