Effect of L-Dihydoxyphenylserine on Locomotion, Postural Stability, and Fall Risk Reduction in Parkinson Disease

Overview

This research study is being done to determine whether treatment with L- Dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS) versus placebo (an inactive substance that looks like study drug) in addition to other Parkinson Disease (PD) drugs will improve balance, walking, and reduce risk of falls and/or severity of falls in PD subjects. The study is also being done to determine the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of L-DOPS, and whether it will decrease Freezing of Gait (FOG), improve apathy (generalized disinterest) or show a relationship between apathy and slowed movement and fall risk.

Among the top three priorities presented to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Council 22 as final recommendations of critical needs for advancing Parkinson Disease (PD) research in 2014 is to develop effective treatments for dopa-resistant features of PD. These features include symptoms such as gait and balance problems, and freezing of gait leading to falls. In order for these goals to be realized, dysfunctional motor patterns in patients with gait and balance problems need to be accurately defined and assessed using body-fixed sensors and other newer computation technology to enhance sensitivity and specificity of measurement to facilitate long-term follow-up. The proposed research will meet the challenge of determining appropriate intervention (L-DOPS) for dopa-resistant features of PD in improving gait and posture using innovative quantitative analyses derived from body-worn sensors. Injuries associated with fall incidences continue to pose a significant burden to persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) both in terms of human suffering and economic losses. Annual fall incidence rates range from 50-70% of patients with PD. Recurrent falls especially, are a major cause of disability in PD. The resulting loss of independence and treatment costs add substantially to the healthcare expenditures in PD which was estimated to be $27 billion annually2. This number may rise substantially in the coming decades as the entire US population ages. Any intervention that is cost effective at reducing fall risk could have important benefits for patients and families, and for the entire healthcare system. In this study, we will determine whether treatment with L- Dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS, Northera) in addition to dopaminergic drugs will improve postural stability and activity of daily living, and reduce fall risk and/or severity of falls in PD patients.Falls, early in PD (within 5 years of diagnosis) probably arise from slowed locomotion. Slowed locomotion is corrected by dopaminergic drugs, hence falls early in PD are decreased by such drugs. Later in PD (5 or years after diagnosis) falls, recurrent falls, occur despite such drugs. There is evidence that falls late in PD occur because of impaired postural stability which does not respond to dopaminergic drugs or may be made worse by such drugs. A single fall, although serious, may be only partly related or even unrelated to PD. "Serious fall" is defined as: all four limbs hit the ground, the skull hits the ground, or there is soft tissue or bone injury. However, some people with PD fall repeatedly. In such patients the role of impaired postural stability was stressed. Although the mechanisms underlying impaired postural stability are not well-known in patients with PD, attention is focused on the noradrenergic system. L-DOPS, a drug that enhances norepinephrine levels in the peripheral and central nervous systems, has been shown to moderate orthostatic hypotension, and often improve some PD symptoms. There is evidence that mechanisms related to norepinephrine centers in the basal forebrain and the locus ceruleus play a role in maintaining postural stability in activities of daily living. They may play a role in preventing or ameliorating falls and freezing of gait. FOG is a major problem in patients with PD who fall. There is evidence that L-DOPS, by improving FOG, decreases risk of falls. Additionally, evidence indicates that L-DOPS decreases falls independent of improving FOG. Apathy, a major and disabling non-motor symptom of PD, may be related to decreased central norepinephrine levels. Apathy may be associated with slowed movements and slowed movements may contribute to falls. There is evidence that L-DOPS, by increasing central norepinephrine, may improve apathy and this may result in a decreased risk of falls.