ReSPonD Study - Rivastigmine to Stabilise gait in Parkinson’s Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Rivastigmine on gait in people with Parkinson’s disease who have fallen.
IRAS ID
52470
Contact name
Alan Whone
Contact email
Eudract number
2011-003053-25
Research summary
Falls are common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and cause loss of confidence and social isolation as well as increasing the risk of fractures and having to live in a nursing home. Patients with PD walk abnormally, having an impaired ability to maintain normal posture. They also have difficulty executing complex mental tasks and paying attention to multiple items at once. Whilst walking they are, therefore, unable to pay sufficient attention to maintaining their balance so are at higher risk of falling.Rivastigmine is a drug that improves an underlying chemical deficiency in of the brain's chemical messengers. We propose that the drug will increase people??s mental function and improve their unsteadiness when walking and reduce the risk of falling.This study will examine the flunce of rivastigmine on walking steadiness. The findings will provide further understanding of the mechanistic reasons why people with PD fall. It will ascertain whether drugs such as rivastigmine could be used to help normalise and stabilise walking and thus potentially prevent falls and any serious adverse consequences.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
11/SW/0234
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2011
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion