Your participation in this study will help researchers understand genetic information about Parkinson's disease in Black and African Americans. BLAAC PD aims to generate genetic data on PD and non-PD Black and African American participants. To join this study, you must be over 18 years of age and identify as Black or African American. Subjects must have a diagnosis of PD or not have PD or any other neurological condition. The study will consist of one visit, at this visit you will be asked to answer a few questions and give a blood sample. You will not receive your genetic results.
The purpose of this research study is to establish normal reference values for metrics used during high-resolution pharyngeal manometry (HRPM). HRPM is a test that measures pressures in the pharynx (throat) during swallowing. In this study, healthy adults who do not have a swallowing problem will undergo a single procedure that involves placing a small catheter in the nose and pharynx to measure pressure while swallowing liquids and foods. A single, one-hour visit is required for study participation. The HRPM procedure will take approximately 10 minutes. Participants will be compensated for their time and effort.
The purpose of this study is to explore whether stimulating different outer parts of the ear using a non-invasive form of ear stimulation called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) will create different brain activation images. We will recruit 24 healthy participants. The ear stimulation will be delivered while taking brain images using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.
This is a research study to find out if Qutenza 8% capsaicin topical system is safe and effective when treating subjects with lower back pain (LBP) that is caused by damage at or near the nerve's root in the lower back leg (lumbosacral radiculopathy) which is pain that can move all the way down the back of the leg. The pain may also start outside of the spinal cord, in the peripheral nerves and may also be felt all the way down the back of the leg (neuropathic LBP). Qutenza 8% capsaicin, the study drug, is currently FDA approved to treat nerve pain after a shingles outbreak in addition to a type of nerve pain in the feet associated with diabetes. In this study a maximum of four patches per visit (sized 14cm x 20 cm) will be used to deliver the Qutenza 8% capsaicin to your skin.
If a subject meets the qualifications for this study, in addition to their standard of care for their LBP, they will be treated with Qutenza 8% capsaicin topical system and can expect to have a total of 5 visits in a 12 month period. Each visit will require subjects to fill out several surveys and receive treatment patches for their LBP (your doctor will decide if you will need to be retreated at each visit based on your symptoms). This is an open-label study and all participants will receive Qutenza 8% capsaicin topical system. The study visits are estimated to take 90 minutes upwards to 120 minutes.
Smoking is one of the main public health problems. Smoking cessation is difficult because of nicotine dependence. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the frontal head has shown to be effective in the reduction of cigarette consumption and craving. In this study, we will evaluate the efficiency of a new form of rTMS called intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) for smoking cessation.
Children spend more time than ever using screens — increasingly on portable digital media devices like tablets and smartphones, but our understanding about how these devices impact health is lagging. This project proposes to uncover how patterns of digital media use are formed and maintained and examine how those patterns predict mental health and cardiovascular health risk over time. The novel forms of media measurement used in this project – including passive mobile sampling, ecological momentary assessment and accelerometry – will allow us to uncover the unique and complex ways in which digital media impacts health behaviors.
In this research study, we are examining how brain activity (electrical and blood flow) changes during tests of emotional processing and attention and memory in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. We are also using non-invasive brain stimulation to probe different parts of the brain and measuring brain activity (electrical and blood flow) alongside evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy. This study includes healthy and clinical participants and researchers hope this will help us develop improved brain-based treatments for emotional difficulties like depression.
Sometimes, it is necessary to re-learn a previously learned movement behavior, for example, a bad posture during the golf drive or while playing the piano. Unlearning or relearning an intensively trained behavior is particularly important if the behavior is hampering recovery, for example, in chronic pain or after a stroke. With this study, we experimentally test the brain mechanisms that control the change of pre-existing stable memories of a motor skill with electroencephalography (EEG). We will then use non-invasive brain stimulation to modulate these brain mechanisms and test if it is possible to change the pre-existing motor memory and the learning of a new motor skill.
The purpose of this research study is to determine if an already FDA approved drug called atorvastatin can help adults, age 75 or older, live well for longer by preventing dementia, disability, or heart disease. Participants will be assigned by chance to receive either atorvastatin (study drug) or a matching placebo (a tablet that looks like atorvastatin but does not contain any medicine). Study engagement may last up to five years and involves in clinic and/or remote visits, survey questions, potential blood draws, in addition to memory and physical tests. After the first 1-2 visits performed in clinic or remote, the study team will follow-up via phone on a yearly basis to see how participants are doing. Participants will be compensated for their time and participation in this research study.
The purpose of this research study is to determine if an already FDA approved drug called atorvastatin can help adults, age 75 or older, live well for longer by preventing dementia, disability, or heart disease. Participants will be assigned by chance to receive either atorvastatin (study drug) or a matching placebo (a tablet that looks like atorvastatin but does not contain any medicine). Study engagement may last up to five years and involves in clinic and/or remote visits, survey questions, potential blood draws, in addition to memory and physical tests. After the first 1-2 visits performed in clinic or remote, the study team will follow-up via phone on a yearly basis to see how participants are doing. Participants will be compensated for their time and participation in this research study.