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.
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
- Conditions the study is for
- Parkinson Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Movement Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Participant self-assessment surveys, Phonation and Gait and balance
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- 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.
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.
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Movement Disorders, Central Nervous System Diseases, Brain Diseases, Basal Ganglia Diseases
- 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 group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Participants with Parkinson disease | Experimental | People 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 disease | Experimental | People 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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
- First posted2 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2015
- Primary completion28 Feb 2018
- Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Parkinson DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sage Bionetworks
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Solly Sieberts, PhD, Principal investigator, Sage Bionetworks
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 11296689Klucken 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 23431395Chaibub 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
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mobile Parkinson Observatory for Worldwide, Evidence-based Research (mPower)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02696603
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- mPower / 201410711
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Movement Disorders, Central Nervous System Diseases, Brain Diseases, Basal Ganglia Diseases
- Keywords
- Health app research, mHealth research, Mobile health research, Mobile application health research
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Sage BionetworksUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Study start
- Mar 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Participants with Parkinson disease | Experimental | Behavioral: Participant self-assessment surveys, Behavioral: Phonation, Behavioral: Gait and balance, Behavioral: Memory, Behavioral: Dexterity, Behavioral: Participant open-response writing, Other: Parkinson mPower mobile applicationPeople 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. |
| Participants without Parkinson disease | Experimental | Behavioral: Participant self-assessment surveys, Behavioral: Phonation, Behavioral: Gait and balance, Behavioral: Memory, Behavioral: Dexterity, Behavioral: Participant open-response writing, Other: Parkinson mPower mobile applicationPeople 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Participant self-assessment surveysAt 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. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| PhonationParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| Gait and balanceParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| MemoryParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| DexterityParticipants 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. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| Participant open-response writingQualitative participant feedback is used to assess participant engagement with, understanding of, and acceptance of app-based research. | Behavioural | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
| Parkinson mPower mobile applicationParticipants complete all described behavioral interventions via a dedicated iPhone app, Parkinson mPower. | Other | Participants with Parkinson disease, Participants without Parkinson disease |
Primary outcome
Results of participant self-assessment surveys
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Results of participant self-assessment surveys will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.
Digital audio signals of sustained phonation from phonation intervention
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
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.
Gyroscope and accelerometer sensor measurements from gait and balance intervention
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
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.
Sequence length from memory intervention
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
The investigators assess the sequence length completed in the Memory intervention. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.
iPhone screen touch sensor data on rhythm, speed, and location of taps from dexterity intervention
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
The investigators assess participant dexterity through a combination of steadiness, speed, and tap precision. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.
App usage data for assessment of participant engagement
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
App usage data is used to gauge participant engagement throughout the study period. These results may also be compared with other intervention results.
Qualitative analysis of participant open-response and app usage data to assess participant acceptance of app-based research
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
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.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Jun 2025.
- BackgroundCorsi, P.M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain (Ph.D.). McGill University.
- Background: PubMed 11296689Kessels 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.
- Background: PubMed 23431395Klucken 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.
- Results publication: PubMed 26776193Chaibub 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.
- mPower study websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: 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.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Solly Sieberts, PhD principal investigator
Sage Bionetworks
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
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.