Inhibitory Control and Gait Adaptability in Parkinson's Disease

Relationship Between Inhibitory Control and Gait Adaptability During Obstacle Crossing in People With Parkinson's Disease

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) may have difficulty stopping or changing their movements, especially when walking around obstacles.

The goal of this observational study is to learn if a specific cognitive function, called inhibitory control (the ability to stop or control actions) is associated with gait adaptability in people with Parkinson's disease. Gait adaptability means the ability to adjust how a person walks in response to changes in the environment, such as stepping over obstacles.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

• If brain activation related to inhibitory control, measured by EEG, is associated with gait adaptability during obstacle crossing in people with Parkinson's disease?
• If behavioral inhibitory control is associated with gait adaptability during obstacle crossing in people with Parkinson's disease?

Participants take part in one study visit. During this visit, participants complete simple thinking tests, have their brain activity recorded using EEG, and perform walking tasks that include stepping over obstacles.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease;
• Stable use of prescribed antiparkinsonian medication for at least two weeks;
• Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage I to III;
• Age between 18 and 80 years;
• Ability to ambulate independently for at least 30 meters without assistive devices;
• A Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥ 24;
• Corrected vision and hearing sufficient to effectively receive external stimuli

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of any neurological, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular disorders that could affect participation in this study;
• The presence of psychiatric disorders that could interfere with the ability to follow instructions or comply with study procedures;
• A history of brain surgery, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS)