Gamification for Parkinson's Disease

Overseen By Scott R Greysen, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Must be taking: Anti-parkinsonian

Disqualifiers: Atypical parkinsonian, Cardiovascular, Dementia, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if games can encourage Veterans with Parkinson's Disease to become more active. Researchers are testing a fun approach called gamification, where participants gain or lose points based on their daily step goals. The trial will compare this method to simply receiving reminders about step goals. Veterans with Parkinson's who are stable on their medication and have access to a smartphone or similar device might be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides Veterans with a unique opportunity to explore innovative ways to enhance their daily activity levels.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that participants stay on their current anti-parkinsonian medications.

What prior data suggests that this gamification method is safe for increasing physical activity in Parkinson's Disease patients?

Research has shown that gamification, which uses fun and engaging activities to motivate people, can be safe and effective for those with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Studies have found that methods like earning points or rewards can increase physical activity without major safety concerns.

For instance, one study found that gamification helped people with PD become more active, with no serious side effects reported. Another study showed that adding gamification to exercise programs improved both movement skills and daily step counts for people with PD, again without significant negative effects.

Overall, evidence suggests that gamification is well-tolerated and can safely help people with PD be more active. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about gamification for Parkinson's disease because it offers a fresh approach, different from traditional medication and physical therapy. Most treatments focus on managing symptoms with drugs like Levodopa or dopamine agonists, but gamification introduces a fun, engaging way to encourage physical activity. By using game-like elements such as gaining or losing points based on meeting step goals, this method could improve motivation and adherence to exercise routines. This innovative approach not only aims to enhance physical activity but also potentially boosts mental engagement and overall quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's.

What evidence suggests that gamification is effective for increasing physical activity in Parkinson's Disease?

Research has shown that game-like activities can help people with Parkinson's Disease (PD) become more active. One study found that when people with PD used these activities at home, they exercised more and felt better. Another study demonstrated that these activities also improved speech in people with PD. This trial will compare two approaches: participants in the "Gamification" arm will engage in an automated gamification intervention, earning or losing points based on reaching a step goal target. Meanwhile, those in the "Feedback control" arm will receive a daily text message reminding them of their step goal and whether they met it. By encouraging more physical activity, these activities might improve quality of life and slow the progression of PD. Overall, these findings suggest that game-like activities could be a promising way to manage Parkinson's Disease symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

James F Morley, MD

Principal Investigator

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Veterans with Parkinson's Disease who are not currently meeting recommended activity goals. The study aims to help participants increase their physical activity through gamification and feedback control methods.

Inclusion Criteria

Veterans

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

I am on a stable medication plan for Parkinson's disease.

Exclusion Criteria

I have health issues that prevent me from doing physical activities.

I have been diagnosed with dementia.

I have been diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's or take medication that could cause Parkinson-like symptoms.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a 12-week gamification intervention to increase physical activity

12 weeks

Conducted remotely

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity and clinical outcomes

12 weeks

Conducted remotely

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Gamification

Trial Overview

The effectiveness of using game-like elements (gamification) and personalized feedback to encourage physical activity in people with Parkinson's Disease is being tested. Participants will be randomly assigned to different groups to compare outcomes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Gamification Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will participate in an automated gamification intervention with loss or gain of points based on reaching a step goal target

Group II: Feedback control Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects in the control group will only receive a daily text message reminding them of their daily step goal and whether they met the goal or not

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Citations

1.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07286994

NCT07286994 | Gamification and Physical Activity in PD

In this study, the investigators will test the effectiveness of gamification in a randomized trial to increase activity. Importantly, the ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12252148/

Gamification Integration in Technological Devices for Motor ...

A serious game for speech training in dysarthric speakers with Parkinson's disease: exploring therapeutic efficacy and patient satisfaction. Int J Lang ...

3.

neurology.org

neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000211751

A Remotely-deployed Gamification Intervention Increases ...

A remotely deployed gamification intervention allowed recruitment of people with PD living over 200 miles from the study site, increased PA and improved ...

4.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2841028

Remote, Automated Gamification and Community-Based ...

Increasing physical activity—including walking—improves symptoms and quality of life and may slow disease progression in people with Parkinson ...

5.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1512409/full

Cueing-assisted gamified augmented-reality gait-and- ...

We expect that Strolll AR is (i) clinically feasible in terms of safety, adherence, performance, and user experience (i.e., for both people with Parkinson's ...

6.

mdpi.com

mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12384

Gamified Dual-Task Training for Individuals with Parkinson ...

Across participants, significant improvements were achieved in more outcome measures after gamified DTT than they were after STT. Individually, participants ...