The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility if a remotely administered smartphone app can increase the volume and intensity of physical activity in daily life in patients with isolated Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder over a long period of time (24 months). Participants will be tasked to achieve an incremental increase of daily steps (volume) and amount of minutes exercised at a certain heart rate (intensity) with respect to their own baseline level. Motivation with regards to physical activity will entirely be communicated through the study specific Slow Speed smartphone app. Primary outcomes will be compliance expressed as longitudinal change in digital measures of physical activity (step count) measured using a Fitbit smartwatch. Exploratory outcomes entail retention rate, completeness of remote digital biomarker assessments, digital prodromal motor and non-motor features of PD, blood biomarkers and brain imaging markers. Using these biomarkers, we aim to develop a composite score (prodromal load score) to estimate the total prodromal load. An international exercise study with fellow researchers in the United States and United Kingdom are currently in preparation (Slow-SPEED). Our intention is to analyse overlapping outcomes combined where possible through a meta-analysis plan, to obtain insight on (determinants of) heterogeneity in compliance and possible efficacy across subgroups
Rationale: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease. Exercise beneficially effects motor symptoms and neuroplasticity in people with PD. However, disease-slowing interventions have been ineffective in clinically manifest PD, when pathology is already advanced, but could succeed in prodromal PD, when pathology is limited. People with an isolated Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep Behaviour Disorder (iRBD) have a high risk to develop clinically manifest PD or a related neurodegenerative disease and are therefore considered to have probable prodromal PD. This study will take an important step forward by studying the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of long-term physical activity on prodromal symptoms and disease progression in people with probable prodromal PD using a newly developed, fully remote smartphone-based app. The app is inspired by the app used in the STEPWISE trial (NCT04848077). Objective: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether a smartphone app can increase the volume and intensity of physical activity in daily life in patients with iRBD at risk of developing PD for a long period of time (24 months). The secondary aim is the potential group effect on physical fitness, digital prodromal motor- and non-motor symptoms. Thirdly, we investigate whether the intervention, prodromal motor- and non-motor symptoms can be assessed remotely in a digital, decentralized fashion. Fourthly, we aim to investigate the effect on imaging- and fluid biomarkers to identify markers for prodromal progression. Using these biomarkers, we aim to develop a composite score (prodromal load score) to estimate the total prodromal load. The anticipated fluid biomarkers outcomes are subject to potential alterations in the event of the development and implementation of novel techniques and/or biomarkers during the course of this study. Study design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial Study population: A total of 110 Dutch patients with iRBD (ICSD-3 criteria) aged 50 years and older, who are in possession of a suitable smartphone without mobility hampering conditions and absence of cognitive impairment which impedes usage of a smartphone will be recruited Intervention: Participants will be randomized to a group and will be motivated to increase the volume and intensity of physical activity based on their own baseline level. The groups differ in the amount of physical activity that they are tasked to achieve.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
110
A motivational smartphone application will be available for all participants using their own smartphone: the Slow-SPEED app. The Slow-SPEED app will motivate participants to increase the volume and intensity of their physical activity in daily life over a long period of time (2 years) based on their own baseline levels. Different treatment arms will receive different physical activity goals. The app offers participants feedback and support, that will stimulate them to reach their individual physical activity goal (i.e. incremental relative increase of step count and minutes exerting ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate reflecting MVPA relative to baseline level.).
Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
RECRUITINGMean change in step count per day
Mean change in step count per day as measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean steps per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in step count indicate more volume of physical activity.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day
Change in number of minutes exerting (minimally) ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate, reflecting moderate intense physical activity, measured continuously using a smartwatch. Mean minutes per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in minutes of MVPA indicate more aerobic physical activity.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in resting heart rate (physical fitness)
Change in resting heart rate per day as measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean resting heart rate per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher negative change (i.e. lower resting heart rate) indicate better function.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in heart rate variability (physical fitness)
Change in heart rate variability in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) measured every 5 minutes with a smartwatch. Mean RMSSD per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in RMSSD indicate better function.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in blood pressure (physical fitness)
Change from baseline (week 0) blood pressure in mmHg assessed by a sphygmomanometer at follow-up (week 104). Lower scores indicate better function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in VO2max (physical fitness)
Change in VO2max in ml/kg/min measured per day with a smartwatch. Mean VO2max per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in VO2max indicate better function.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in heart rate variability (autonomic function)
Mean change in heart rate variability in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) measured every 5 minutes with a smartwatch. Mean RMSSD per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change in RMSSD indicate better function.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in orthostatic blood pressure (autonomic function)
Change in baseline (week 0) difference between supine and standing blood pressure measured with a sphygmomanometer to follow-up (week 104). Higher change indicate more autonomic dysfunction.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in anxiety and depression (HADS)
Change from baseline (week 0) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-42. Higher scores indicate worse function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year), week 104 (follow-up)
Change in cognition (MoCA)
Change from baseline (week 0) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-30. Higher scores indicate better function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 104 (follow-up)
Mean change in light sleep (sleep stage)
Mean change in light sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of light sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more light sleep.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Mean change in deep sleep (sleep stage)
Mean change in deep sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of deep sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more deep sleep.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Mean change in REM sleep (sleep stage)
Mean change in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage measured continuously with a smartwatch. Mean duration of REM sleep per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Higher positive change indicate more REM sleep.
Time frame: All 4 week periods between and including week -4 until 0 (baseline period) and week 100 until 104 (follow-up period)
Change in self-reported sleep quality (PSQI)
Change from baseline (week 0) on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year), week 104 (follow-up)
Change in olfaction (UPSIT)
Change from baseline (week 0) on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) at week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-40. Higher scores indicate better function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 104 (follow-up)
Change in motor symptoms (Roche PD Research mobile application)
Change in motor symptoms measured digitally with the smartphone using the Roche PD Research mobile application. Higher scores indicate worse function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 6, week 12, week 18, week 24, week 30, week 36, week 42, week 48, week 54, week 60, week 66, week 72, week 78, week 84, week 90, week 96, week 102
Change in metabolism (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on glucose and HbA1c at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower scores indicate better metabolism.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in inflammation (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-18, IGF-1, clusterin, Il-10, PGC-α (irisin) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower inflammatory markers indicate less inflammation. Higher anti-inflammatory markers indicate less inflammation.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in growth factors (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and Epidermal growth factor (EGF) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Higher growth factors indicate better function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in ageing mechanism (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on klotho at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. High ageing marker indicate better function (i.e. less aging)
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in pathological protein (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on α-synuclein at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Low pathological protein indicate better function (i.e. less pathological process).
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in neurodegeneration (blood based biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on Neurofilament light (NfL) at follow-up (week 104). Optional at week 26, week 52 and week 78. Lower neurodegeneration markers indicate less neurodegeneration.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26 (optional), week 52 (optional), week 78 (optional) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in brain volume (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on T1 Voxel-Based-Morphometry (VBM) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate higher volume.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in white matter hyperintensities (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on FLAIR at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate worse status.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in basal ganglia; cortex [1] (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on resting-state functional MRI (Rs-fMRI) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better functional connectivity.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in basal ganglia; cortex [2] (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on task-based functional MRI at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better functional connectivity.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in substantia nigra [1] (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better tissue integrity.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in substantia nigra [2] (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate more iron loading.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in substantia nigra [3]; locus coeruleus (imaging biomarkers)
Change from baseline (week 0) on neuromelanin at follow-up (week 104). Higher scores indicate better tissue integrity.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) (functional status)
Change from baseline (week 0) on Lawton instrumental ADL (iADL) scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-14. Higher score indicate better function.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in WHOQoL-BREF (quality of life)
Change from baseline (week 0) on World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better quality of life.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in Research and Development (RAND-36)/Short Form health survey (SF-36) (quality of life)
Change from baseline (week 0) on RAND-36/SF-36 scale at week 52 (1 year) and 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better quality of life.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52 (1 year) and week 104 (follow-up)
System Usability (SUS)
Usability of the Slow-SPEED-NL application assessed by the Dutch version of the System Usability Scale (SUS) at week 52 (year 1) and week 104 (follow-up). Range 0-100. Higher score indicate better usability.
Time frame: week 104 (follow-up)
Barriers and motivators to engage in physical activity
Barriers and motivators to engage in physical activity reported on a self-developed questionnaire
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in phenoconversion neurodegenerative disease
Change from baseline (week 0) on phenoconversion in Parkinson's Disease (PD), Lewy body dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Higher scores indicate more phenoconversion.
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Change in step count on a group level (compliance)
Change from week -4 until 0 (baseline period) mean step count per day compared to mean step count in 6 month periods. Mean step count per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Scored as number of participants able to increase step count per day 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100% relative to their own baseline measure
Time frame: Week -4 until 0 (baseline) compared to week 0-26, week 26-52, week 52-78, week 78-104
Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity per day on a group level (compliance)
Change from week -4 until 0 (baseline period) number of minutes exerting (minimally) ≥ 64% of maximum heart rate in 6 month periods. Mean minutes per day will be calculated from 4-week periods. Scored as number of participants to increase 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100% relative to their own baseline measure
Time frame: Week -4 until 0 (baseline) compared to week 0-26, week 26-52, week 52-78, week 78-104
Number of completed step week goals on a group level (compliance)
Total number of completed step count week goals
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Number of completed aerobic activity (MVPA intensity) week goals on a group level (compliance)
Total number of completed aerobic activity (MVPA intensity) week goals
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 104 (follow-up)
Number of drop-outs on a group level (retention rate)
Number of drop-outs throughout the study
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)
Number of interactions with Slow-SPEED app on a group level
Total times opening the app
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)
Number of completed questionnaires on group level (completeness of digital assessments)
Number of completed questionnaires
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 52, week 104 (follow-up)
Number of smartwatch data points on group level (completeness of digital assessments)
Number of data points received for each selected smartwatch parameter
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)
Total smartwatch wear time on group level (completeness of digital assessments)
Total smartwatch wear time
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 26, week 52, week 78, week 104 (follow-up)
Number of Roche PD Research mobile application data points on group level (completeness of digital assessments)
Number of data points received
Time frame: Week 0 (baseline), week 6, week 12, week 18, week 24, week 30, week 36, week 42, week 48, week 54, week 60, week 66, week 72, week 78, week 84, week 90, week 96, week 102
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