Skip to content
Bored Studies
RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteers

PPMI Clinical - Establishing a Deeply Phenotyped PD Cohort

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research · with Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders · NCT04477785

View Study & Apply (opens in a new tab)

Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 30+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
4500
US sites recruiting
30
Study start
July 1, 2020
Record last updated
July 27, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The Parkinson Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) is a longitudinal, observational, multi-center natural history study to assess progression of clinical features, digital outcomes, and imaging, biologic and genetic markers of Parkinson's disease (PD) progression in study participants with manifest PD, prodromal PD, and healthy controls.

The overall goal of PPMI is to identify markers of disease progression for use in clinical trials of therapies to reduce progression of PD disability.

Conditions: Parkinson Disease

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

7.1 Healthy Controls (HC) Note: Active Healthy controls previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.1.1 Inclusion Criteria (HC)

  • Male or female age 57 years or older at Screening visit.
  • Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.
  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:
  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.1.2 Exclusion Criteria (HC)

  • First degree relative with PD (i.e., biologic parent, sibling, child).
  • Current or active clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).
  • Previously obtained MRI scan with evidence of clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).
  • Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.
  • Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin, oral thrombin inhibitors) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.
  • Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.
  • Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.2 Parkinson's Disease (PD) Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.2.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD)

  • Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.
  • A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease for 2 years or less at Screening Visit.
  • Not expected to require PD medication within at least 6 months from Baseline.
  • Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.
  • Hoehn and Yahr stage I or II at Baseline.
  • Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.
  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:
  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.2.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD)

  • Currently taking levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, amantadine or another PD medication, except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).
  • Has taken levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors or amantadine within 60 days of Baseline visit.
  • Has taken levodopa or dopamine agonists prior to Baseline visit for more than a total of 90 days.
  • Atypical PD syndromes due to either drugs (e.g., metoclopramide, flunarizine, neuroleptics) or metabolic disorders (e.g., Wilson's disease), encephalitis, or degenerative diseases (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy).
  • A clinical diagnosis of dementia as determined by the investigator.
  • Previously obtained MRI scan with evidence of clinically significant neurological disorder (in the opinion of the Investigator).
  • Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.
  • Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin, oral thrombin inhibitors) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.
  • Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.
  • Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.3 Parkinson's Disease (PD) with LRRK2 or GBA variant Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.3.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD ¬- LRRK2 or GBA)

  • Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.
  • A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease for 2 years or less at Screening Visit.
  • Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.
  • Hoehn and Yahr stage I or II at Baseline.
  • Confirmation of causative LRRK2 or GBA (willingness to undergo genetic testing as part of genetic screening and be informed of genetic testing results, or approved documentation of prior genetic testing results).
  • Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.
  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:
  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.3.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD - LRRK2 or GBA)

  • Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.
  • Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.
  • Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.
  • Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.4 Parkinson's Disease (PD) with SNCA or rare genetic variant Note: Active PD participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

7.4.1 Inclusion Criteria (PD - SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1))

  • Male or female age 30 years or older at Screening Visit.
  • Parkinson's disease diagnosis at Screening Visit.
  • Patients must have at least two of the following: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity (must have either resting tremor or bradykinesia); OR either asymmetric resting tremor or asymmetric bradykinesia.
  • Hoehn and Yahr stage I, II, or III at Baseline.
  • Confirmation of causative SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1) (willingness to undergo genetic testing as part of genetic screening and be informed of genetic testing results, or approved documentation of prior genetic testing results).
  • Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.
  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:
  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

7.4.2 Exclusion Criteria (PD - SNCA or rare genetic variant (such as Parkin or Pink1))

  • Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Screening visit.
  • Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g., coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.
  • Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.
  • Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

7.5 Prodromal Note: Active Prodromal participants previously enrolled in PPMI do not require re-assessment of eligibility criteria listed below for enrollment in PPMI Clinical. Active participants do need to be able to provide informed consent for PPMI Clinical participation (includes use of a designated research proxy).

The specific predictive eligibility criteria for participants recruited through PPMI Remote to advance to PPMI Clinical will be iteratively optimized based on data collected from these studies.

7.5.1 Inclusion criteria (Prodromal)

For Screening

  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on centrally determined predictive criteria including the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).
  • For participants in PPMI Remote, referral to the clinical site confirms predictive eligibility.
  • For participants identified by the clinical site, predictive criteria are based on generalized risk such as first degree biologic relative, known risk of PD including RBD, or known genetic variants associated with PD risk.

Additionally, confirmation of UPSIT eligibility during the Screening visit prior to SPECT Imaging.

  • Male or female age 60 years or older (except age 30 years or older for SNCA, or rare genetic variants (such as Parkin or Pink1) participants).
  • Individuals taking any of the following drugs: alpha methyldopa, methylphenidate, amphetamine derivatives or modafinil, must be willing and medically able to hold the medication for at least 5 half-lives before SPECT imaging.
  • Able to provide informed consent.
  • Either is male, or is female and meets additional criteria below, as applicable:
  • Female of childbearing potential who is not pregnant, lactating, or planning pregnancy during the study and has a negative pregnancy test on day of Screening SPECT imaging test prior to injection of DaTscanTM.

For continuation to Baseline visit and ongoing follow-up:

  • Confirmation that participant is eligible based on *Screening SPECT imaging.
  • Screening SPECT Imaging eligibility:

Based on the results of the SPECT imaging test, Prodromal participants eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical will be asked to return for their PPMI Clinical baseline visit. Neither the participant nor the site investigator will be made aware of the participant's DAT status during the study.

  • It is anticipated that approximately 6,000 participants will complete a screening visit to undergo DAT imaging. Approximately 2,000 participants will be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical (those not eligible to proceed will remain in PPMI Remote, as applicable).
  • All participants with DAT deficit will be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical. It is estimated that about 75% of eligible participants will have a DAT deficit (defined by a hybrid of visual assessment and quantitative striatal specific binding analysis).
  • Some participants without DAT deficit will also be eligible to continue their participation in PPMI Clinical. These participants will be chosen based on DAT binding that is reduced from age expected but it not outside the normal range and/or from individuals with high-risk of PD including RBD, LRRK2, GBA, SNCA, or rare genetic variants (such as Parkin or Pink1) that do not demonstrate DAT deficit. It is estimated that about 25% of eligible participants will not have a DAT deficit.
  • It is anticipated that approximately 30% of the PPMI Clinical prodromal participants with DAT deficit will phenoconvert to motor parkinsonism during a 3 to 5-year follow-up.

7.5.2 Exclusion Criteria (Prodromal)

  • Clinical diagnosis of PD at screening, other parkinsonism, or dementia.
  • Received any of the following drugs: dopamine receptor blockers (neuroleptics), metoclopramide and reserpine within 6 months of Baseline Visit.
  • Current treatment with anticoagulants (e.g. coumadin, heparin) that might preclude safe completion of the lumbar puncture.
  • Condition that precludes the safe performance of routine lumbar puncture, such as prohibitive lumbar spinal disease, bleeding diathesis, or clinically significant coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia.
  • Any other medical or psychiatric condition or lab abnormality, which in the opinion of the investigator might preclude participation.
  • Currently taking levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, amantadine or another PD medication, except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).
  • Has taken levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors or amantadine within 60 days of Baseline visit. except for low-dose treatment of restless leg syndrome (with permission of medical monitor).
  • Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, would render the participant unsuitable for study enrollment.

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, AL 35294

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Barrow Neurological Institute

    Phoenix, AZ 85013

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

    Scottsdale, AZ 85259

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Banner Research Institute

    Sun City, AZ 85351

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of California San Diego

    La Jolla, CA 92093-0948

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764 · clinicaltrialsadrc@health.ucsd.edu

  • Keck School of Medicine of USC

    Los Angeles, CA 90033

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, CA 94115

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Aurora, CO 80045

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Institute For Neurodegenerative Disorders

    New Haven, CT 06510

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Parkinson's Disease& Movement Disorder Center of Boca Raton

    Boca Raton, FL 33486

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, FL 32608

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of South Florida

    Tampa, FL 33606

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Emory University School of Medicine

    Atlanta, GA 30329

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, IL 60611

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    Kansas City, KS 66160

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, MD 21287

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Boston University

    Boston, MA 02118

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, MA 02446

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

    Las Vegas, NV 89106

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Beth Israel Medical Center

    New York, NY 10003

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • NYU Langone Health

    New York, NY 10017

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Rochester

    Rochester, NY 14620

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children's Hospital

    Cincinnati, OH 45219

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, OH 44195

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Oregon Health &Science University

    Portland, OR 97239

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PA 19107

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, PA 15213

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Baylor College of Medicine

    Houston, TX 77030

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

  • Univ of Washington and VA Puget Sound Health Care System

    Seattle, WA 98104

    Site contact: PPMI Call Center · 877-525-7764

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Cari Rainville, BS · 877-525-7764 · crainville@indd.org
All neurology studies in Alabama →
PPMI Clinical - Establishing a Deeply Phenotyped PD Cohort (NCT04477785) | Bored Studies