Northumbria University is
leading research on the effects of technological visual training as a potential
rehabilitation tool for people affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Sam Stuart, a senior
researcher in the Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at
Northumbria, is working with American company, Senaptec, an industry leader in
the design and production of sensory performance assessment.
Using Senaptec’s technology, Dr
Stuart is working in collaboration with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation
Trust, carrying out clinical trials on 40 people suffering with the symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease.
The Senaptec technology
consists of a sensory performance assessment station, eyewear and a mobile
tablet application that have pre-set modes that can be customised. The eyewear
has been manufactured to look like a pair of glasses, these ‘smart’ glasses are
designed to help elite athletes process vision faster and more efficiently.
This provides a unique edge for athletes to perform at a higher level more
consistently and with better decision making. The eyewear lenses flicker on and
off, making it harder to process information, which helps the brain focus on
visual tasks. The resulting heightened vision capability can improve people’s
eye-hand coordination, movement, balance, and reaction time. Dr Stuart is
combining the brain training techniques of the Sensory Station and tablet
application with the eyewear to help improve mobility and balance in people
with Parkinson’s.
“This study aims to explore
whether vision and balance can be improved with visual training for people with
Parkinson’s,” said Dr Stuart. “Research has shown that people with Parkinson’s rely
more heavily on their vision for day-to-day activities. Visual and cognitive
problems combined with balance issues increase the risk of falls among people
with Parkinson’s. This risk can of course lead to decreased physical activity
and a reduced quality of life.
“Working with Senaptec and
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, our aim is to find out what effect
visual training has on participants’ visual abilities and whether this has any
impact on their balance and walking.”
Parkinson’s is the largest
growing neurological disorder in the world, with one in 37 people at risk of
developing the disease in their lifetime.
This project compliments the
growing body of research at Northumbria University on rehabilitation for people
with Parkinson’s disease. Dr Stuart is also working on an international
research project funded by the Parkinson’s Foundation (USA) looking at walking
interventions for people with Parkinson’s disease in collaboration with
Northumbria Healthcare NHS and Oregon Health and Science University.
