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Parkinson DiseasemPowerNCT02696603

Mobile Parkinson Observatory for Worldwide, Evidence-based Research (mPower)

A study testing Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation and Gait and balance in people with Parkinson Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases, run by Sage Bionetworks at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to understand variation in the symptoms of Parkinson disease. This study uses an iPhone app to record these symptoms through questionnaires and sensors. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation and Gait and balance
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20,000 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Mar 2015to 31 Dec 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 years
  • Have a personal (i.e., not shared) iPhone (4s or newer running iOS 8.0 or later)
  • Be able to read and understand an official language of the country of participation
  • Be able to provide informed consent (i.e., pass assessment quiz)
  • Be willing to follow study procedures

Who cannot join

  • Age 17 years or younger
  • Not a resident of the of a country where the app is approved for use
  • Not have a personal (i.e., not shared) iPhone (4s or newer running iOS 8.0 or later)
  • Not be able to read and understand an official language of the country of participation
  • Not be able to give informed consent
  • Not be willing to follow study procedures

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Sage Bionetworks

    Seattle, Washington, 98109

Other trials in United States

About this study

The purpose of this study is to understand variation in the symptoms of Parkinson disease. This study uses an iPhone app to record these symptoms through questionnaires and sensors.

Read the detailed description

Living with Parkinson disease means coping with symptoms that change every day. Yet these changes are not tracked frequently enough. Most people with Parkinson disease see a clinician only once or twice a year. This study measures changes in Parkinson disease symptoms in real time using an app. The app remotely monitors Parkinson disease symptoms using surveys and the sensors on mobile devices. This study may contribute to increasing our understanding of the variability in Parkinson disease symptoms. This knowledge could be used to improve quality of life for people living with Parkinson disease.

Being tested
Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation, Gait and balance, Memory, Dexterity
Keywords
Health app research, mHealth research, Mobile health research, Mobile application health research
Medical subject headings
Parkinson Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Movement Disorders, Central Nervous System Diseases, Brain Diseases, Basal Ganglia Diseases, Parkinsonian Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Participant self-assessment surveysBehavioural

    At enrollment, participants are asked to complete a baseline health history and a participant-reported symptom inventory. Thereafter, participants are asked to respond to commonly used questions that assess Parkinson Disease symptoms and quality of life at regular intervals.

  • PhonationBehavioural

    Participants are asked to record themselves saying "Aaah" for 10 seconds using the iPhone microphone. This activity is designed to assess vocal features, including vocal tremor. The investigators extract features from the digital audio signals of these sustained phonations. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms and analyze these phonations using methods similar to those employed in the Parkinson Voice Initiative.

  • Gait and balanceBehavioural

    Participants are asked to walk back and forth for 30 seconds and then stand still for 30 seconds. Gait and balance are measured by gyroscope and accelerometer sensors. The investigators examine step-dependent and sequence-dependent features from these sensors. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms to analyze these data.

  • MemoryBehavioural

    Participants are asked to complete a visuospatial short-term memory game related to the Corsi block tapping test [Corsi, P.M. (1972)] as adapted by Kate Possin, PhD of the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center (personal communication, 2015). In this activity, participants are presented with a grid of objects that change color in a set pattern. Participants are then asked to tap the objects in that same pattern. The investigators assess the sequence length completed.

  • DexterityBehavioural

    Participants are asked to tap on the phone screen with alternating fingers. This test can be done with either or both hands. The investigators record the rhythm, speed, and location of these taps using the touch sensors of the iPhone screen. The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision.

  • Participant open-response writingBehavioural

    Qualitative participant feedback is used to assess participant engagement with, understanding of, and acceptance of app-based research.

  • Parkinson mPower mobile applicationOther

    Participants complete all described behavioral interventions via a dedicated iPhone app, Parkinson mPower.

Study groups in NCT02696603
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Participants with Parkinson diseaseExperimentalPeople who report a diagnosis of Parkinson disease. Participants are invited via the Parkinson mPower mobile application to complete the following behavioral interventions: Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation, Gait and balance, Memory, Dexterity, and Participant open-response writing.
Receives: Behavioral: Participant self-assessment surveys; Behavioral: Phonation; Behavioral: Gait and balance; Behavioral: Memory; Behavioral: Dexterity; Behavioral: Participant open-response writing; Other: Parkinson mPower mobile application
Participants without Parkinson diseaseExperimentalPeople who do not report a diagnosis of Parkinson disease. Participants are invited via the Parkinson mPower mobile application to complete the following behavioral interventions: Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation, Gait and balance, Memory, Dexterity, and Participant open-response writing.
Receives: Behavioral: Participant self-assessment surveys; Behavioral: Phonation; Behavioral: Gait and balance; Behavioral: Memory; Behavioral: Dexterity; Behavioral: Participant open-response writing; Other: Parkinson mPower mobile application

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Results of participant self-assessment surveys

    Results of participant self-assessment surveys will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  2. Digital audio signals of sustained phonation from phonation intervention

    The investigators extract features from the digital audio signals of sustained phonations. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms and analyze these phonations using methods similar to those employed in the Parkinson Voice Initiative (http://www.parkinsonsvoice.org/science.php). These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  3. Gyroscope and accelerometer sensor measurements from gait and balance intervention

    The investigators examine step-dependent and sequence-dependent features from gyroscope and accelerometer sensors. The investigators apply feature selection and classifier algorithms to analyze these data. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  4. Sequence length from memory intervention

    The investigators assess the sequence length completed in the Memory intervention. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  5. iPhone screen touch sensor data on rhythm, speed, and location of taps from dexterity intervention

    The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  6. App usage data for assessment of participant engagement

    App usage data is used to gauge participant engagement throughout the study period. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

  7. Qualitative analysis of participant open-response and app usage data to assess participant acceptance of app-based research

    App usage data and qualitative participant feedback are used to assess participant understanding and acceptance of app-based research. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.

    Measured: Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Mar 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2015
  3. Primary completion28 Feb 2018
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
20,000 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02696603
Sponsor's protocol ID
201410711
Other IDs
20141369
Acronym
mPower
Status last verified
Jun 2025
First submitted
23 Feb 2016
Last updated
11 Jun 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Coded data authorized for sharing by participants will be made available for research purposes via Synapse, Sage Bionetworks' analysis platform. Coded data is study data that does not include participants names or other directly identifying information.

Publications

  • Corsi, P.M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain (Ph.D.). McGill University.

  • Kessels RP, van Zandvoort MJ, Postma A, Kappelle LJ, de Haan EH. The Corsi Block-Tapping Task: standardization and normative data. Appl Neuropsychol. 2000;7(4):252-8. doi: 10.1207/S15324826AN0704_8.

    PubMed 11296689
  • Klucken J, Barth J, Kugler P, Schlachetzki J, Henze T, Marxreiter F, Kohl Z, Steidl R, Hornegger J, Eskofier B, Winkler J. Unbiased and mobile gait analysis detects motor impairment in Parkinson's disease. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e56956. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056956. Epub 2013 Feb 19.

    PubMed 23431395
  • Chaibub Neto E, Bot BM, Perumal T, Omberg L, Guinney J, Kellen M, Klein A, Friend SH, Trister AD. PERSONALIZED HYPOTHESIS TESTS FOR DETECTING MEDICATION RESPONSE IN PARKINSON DISEASE PATIENTS USING iPHONE SENSOR DATA. Pac Symp Biocomput. 2016;21:273-84.

    PubMed 26776193

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation and Gait and balance in people with Parkinson Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases, run by Sage Bionetworks at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Results of participant self-assessment surveys (time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02696603, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jun 2025.

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